El-10 Electric Pinwheel
Published: Tuesday 14 March 2006 - Updated: Thursday 31 March 2011
Aim
To demonstrate a simple electrostatic motor.
Apparatus
- Electric pinwheel (as shown in diagram)
- Van de Graaff generator
Diagrams
Click on pictures to enlarge.
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Van De Graaf pinwheel |
Pinwheel Diagram |
Description
The pinwheel is placed on top of the Van de Graaff dome. On starting the generator the wheel rotates, and on a good day a bluish light together with a hissing sound emanates from the points.
The air is ionised in the high electrical field of the points. The ions and the points have the same sign of charge and thus repel each other.