Modification and Application of the Van de Graaff Generator

Abstract

A Van de Graaff generator is a type of electrostatic generator that accumulates electric charge on a large metal sphere. In this paper a brief history of the Van de Graaff generator is presented, along with a description of how a typical Van de Graaff generator works and the physics principles it demonstrates. Detail is provided on improving an existing Van de Graaff generator with before-and-after performance data.