MIT Physics Demo -- Confetti and the Van de Graaff Generator

Paper confetti is placed atop a (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_de_Graaff_generator) Van de Graaff generator and flies off when the grounding rod is removed.

When turned on, a Van de Graaff generator builds up lots of negative charge on its large metal sphere. A grounding rod is used to protect the demonstrator and control the amount of charge. When the paper confetti is place on the sphere the charge jumps onto it, but since paper is an insulator, the charge cannot move and sticks to the inner side of the paper. Since there is more negative charge also on the sphere, the negatively-charged paper will be repelled away.

The Van de Graaff generator was developed by (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_de_Graaff_generator) Robert J. Van de Graaff, an MIT professor.

See the original video and more on MIT TechTV here - http://techtv.mit.edu/videos/1681-confetti-and-the-van-de-graaff-generator

Category:

Education

Tags:

• mit mittechtv mit
• physics
• demo
• demonstration
• science
• engineering
• electricity
• electrostatics
• charge
• confetti
• party
• spark
• jump
• parade

[mattmc318]

That's what nerds call a college party.

[mikicat81]

So sweet!!! I can't belive he is laughing

[sprattysy]

very interesting thanks

[rodswebdesign]

Very enjoyable thank you

[staranjela]

really informative and interesting

[dantro78]

@weezilla The generator in the video is made by Winsco (or the Wabash Instrument Company).

[weezilla]

What company is this Van de Graaf generator from?

[IPOSER9]

is the sphere negative or positive on this model ?i mean how do you make the sphere negative if usually its positve

[BlueHazel0101]

so does that mean that if i take off the ground rod from the machine and let the confetti fly the i quickly put the ground back on again ...will the confetti come back???