The Van de Graaff Generator Explained - GCSE Physics

This video explains how the Van de Graaff generator works.

The Van de Graaff generator generates static electricity by rubbing two insulators together. One insulator transfers some of its electrons to the other, causing both to become electrically charged. The metal dome at the top of the generator collects these electrons. The electrons have nowhere to go on the dome, there is no path for them and that's why the Van de Graaff generates static electricity.

If something light like hair is brought into close contact with the Van de Graaff generator, then the negatively charged dome will repel the electrons in the atoms within the hair. This causes hair to stand on end and spread out.

Thanks for watching,

Lewis

This video is not specifically relevant but recommended for GCSE Physics 9-1 in the following exam boards:
AQA (including Trilogy)
Edexcel
OCR A
OCR B
CIE (Cambridge International Examinations) IGCSE
Edexcel International IGCSE

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[pixiiealali]

I thought that I would fail this chapter, but thank you so much for making it easy.

[nickknight]

Lovely video - clear, thoughtful, and engaging.

[eamoncrosby]

fantastic demo . Sadly for me I can’t experience these sparks first hand as I carry a genetic heart condition which can lead to sudden death 😩
Thanks for making your videos so much fun!

[DrPeppicalPlayzMC]

I did this on my last day of the year in 2019, I put my finger on a Bunsen Burner and lit it, I felt like emperor palpatine and have never felt more powerful

[habisheck]

I mean this is super useful this is one of the most important five mark questions in our although our teachers are only insisting to mug up I tried hard to understand these concept but your videos are useful in that case

[saeedelghaziri]

Thank you! This was a big help for my test

[stevehacker]

Great video. I'm using as part of teacher training. Thanks, Lewis.

[michaeldepodesta]

Just in case anyone cares, I have so say that sadly, this is not actually how a Van Der Graaff generator works. Although the mechanism is *related* to rubbing and friction, the charging is definitely NOT caused by rubbing or friction, but simply by CONTACT.

Other videos on YouTube explain it correctly, but briefly it arises from the mere CONTACT between the inside of the belt and the material of the roller as the belt descends, and the breaking of CONTACT as the belt ascends. A similar reverse effect happens at the top roller. Critically the material from which the two rollers are made must be different so that the charging effect happens to a different extent at the top and the bottom. It's complicated, but... well it is.

[gameboyoli]

my school teacher sent this to me on my zoom class it helped

[StephenHolz]

I am pretty sure the rubber belt removes electrons from the metal sphere and it becomes highly positive.

[lewisner]

Does it need to have a highly polished dome or is that just a convention ?

[zk]

Do you know the reason why this generator was built ?

[Swabe-sb]

The video is good but in a first few seconds, the explanation was messed up. If we assume the voltage as 200, 000 volts, and let's assume my body resistance is 5 kilo ohms, still it will drive 40 amps through my body. The reason is the capacitance is too low and therefore it discharges really quick

[gameboyoli]

what would happen if i put a spider in their?

[kermit]

I don't want to see another barbie doll again