- Electrostatics § Harvard Natural Sciences Lecture Demonstrations

Key to Catalog Listings

Size: from small [S] (benchtop) to extra large [XL] (most of the hall)
Setup Time: <10 min [t], 10-15 min [t+], >15 min [t++]
Rating: from good [★] to wow! [★★★★] or not rated [—]

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Triboelectric Effects

[M | t | ★★★] | keywords: electricity by friction, positive and negative charges, vitreous and resinous electricity
Ebonite rod/fur, or glass rod/silk, to generate static charges.

[In-Depth Description]

Induced Electric Dipole

[M | t | ★★] | keywords: electrostatic charge, dielectric polarization, induced dipole Neutral Styrofoam puffs are attracted and picked up by charged rod.

[In-Depth Description]

Polarization of Two Spheres

[M | t | ★★★] keywords: charging by induction, separation of charge, polarization
Two neutral metal spheres become oppositely charged in the presence of a charged object.

Electroscope

[S/M | t | ★★★★] | keywords: electrometer, electroscope, charge and voltage measurement
Gold leaf projection or large arm balance versions of qualitative electrometers.

[In-Depth Description]

Conservation of Charge to 3 Sig Figs

[M | t+ | ★★★] | keywords:charge conservation, triboelectric effect, static electricity
A neutral system of charges is rearranged...charge measured on rabbit's fur is equal and opposite to the charge on the teflon, which has been rubbed with the fur.

[In-Depth Description]

Conservation of Charge to 2 Sig Figs

[M | t+ | ★★★] | keywords:charge conservation, triboelectric effect, static electricity
A neutral system of charges is rearranged...charge measured on a fleece sweater is equal and opposite to the charge on a silk shirt, which has been in contact with the fleece.

[In-Depth Description]

Coulomb's Law

[L | t+ | —] Charged, helium-filled balloons repel and/or attract each other.
[S | t | —] A small apparatus also shows the effect more quantitatively.

Hair Raising

[M | t | ★★★★] | keywords: Coulomb force, electrostatic repulsion, Van de Graaff generator
Wig or hippy volunteer, use a Van de Graaff generator to make your hair repulsive.

[In-Depth Description]

Electrostatic Bells

[S | t | —]
Electically charged bells are repeatedly struck by a small ball which is alternately attracted and repelled by them.

Electrostatic Motor

[M | t+ | —]
Ping-pong ball oscillates inside parallel plate capacitor.

Wimshurst Machine

[M | t | —]
Antique electrostatic generator.

[In-Depth Description]

Kelvin Water Dropper

[M | t+| —]
Unique electrostatic generator...Purcell's analog of Wimshurst.

Van de Graaff Generator

[L | t+ | —]
Anti-antique electrostatic generator to be used with pie plates, etc. or just as a demonstration by itself (of static electricity generation).

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Harvard Natural Sciences Lecture Demonstrations

Harvard Natural Sciences Lecture Demonstrations: - Electrostatics