The Van De Graaff Generator: What It Is & How It Works

While you might not have heard the name, almost everyone has seen a Van De Graaff generator before. It’s the machine that causes people’s hair to stick up when they put their hands on it. While it was originally used as a particle accelerator back when it was created, science has come a long way, making it obsolete.

However, many teachers still use them to this day to teach students about electric charge and static electricity. If you’ve ever been curious about what a Van De Graaff generator is and how it works, this short guide goes over the finer details of this machine for you.

What It Is

Most of the time, Van De Graaff generators are comprised of a pole topped with a large metal sphere. Inside the machine is a system of rollers that move when the machine is on. Most of these generators will also have a smaller metal sphere that people can use to show the static electricity produced within the machine. For those who set them up in hands-on exhibits, these extra spheres usually aren’t included since people will be able to feel the electrical charge themselves.

How It Works

When people hear the word electricity, they tend to get a little worried about potential harm, especially when young children are involved. Fortunately, Van De Graaff generators are completely harmless since they create standard static electricity, something people experience on a regular basis.

It does this by rubbing a cotton belt against two different rollers. The bottom roller is typically made of Teflon, which is more likely to attract electrons, while the top one is usually aluminum based, which will lose the electrons. This process sends these electrons to the outside sphere, which causes the static shock that people experience when touching or getting close to it.

How We Use It

If you’re wondering why we know so much about what the Van De Graaff generator is and how it works, it’s because we work with them quite often. Here at Hagermania, we specialize in performing assembly shows for schools that teach children about various scientific topics in a fun way, so we use these machines quite often. If that sounds like a service you’re interested in for your school, be sure to check out what we can offer you.