I have a school-kit van De Graaf generator. I am fiddling around with
the charge loading brush.
Supplied with the kit there is what I have to call a "starwheel", like
a swastika with the bars at the ends shaped into points :-
_____________
| \
| _________ /
| |
/\ | |
| | | |
| |_____________ |_____________
| 0 |
|_ ______________ __________ |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
______| | \/
/ |
\__________|
which fits on the top of the dome and rotates to show up the electron
discharge from the points. At start-up the star-wheel surges one way,
then the other, which I interpret as positive or negative voltage on
the dome. To my surprise it turns best with the points LEADING.
My question is this: Which shows positive potential and which shows
negative? Points leading or points trailing?
Michael Bell
- posted
10 years ago