Additional Info

• ID Code: J1-26
• Purpose: Demonstrates electrostatic repulsion
• Description:
  

  A group of aluminum pie pans is placed on top of the Van de Graaff dome and the Van de Graaff is turned on. The pie pans are pushed off the top of the dome one at a time by the electrostatic repulsion. Use this as a way to argue that electrostatic forces might be stronger than gravitational forces.

  Engagement Suggestion:

  • Before turning the generator on, encourage students to predict what is going to happen. Challenge them to explain their hypotheses in terms of what they have learned about the behaviour of electrical charge.
  • Feel free to invite students to collect the scattered pans, but remind them not to get close to the Van de Graaff while it is turned on.
  
  
• Availability: Available
• Loc codes: J1a
• Videos-1: Animation of the demonstration
• Videos-2: Demonstration video on YouTube