1660 – Static electric generator

1660 – Static electric generator – Otto von Guericke

Otto von Guericke invented the first static electric generator. It was a sulfur ball on a rod that can be hand cranked and rubbed with a object to generate static electricity. He heard crackling and felt the hairs sand on end. Soon other in Europe were copying it and making improvements.

Experiment – Static Electric generator

Items needed:

  • Note: this experiment is subject too humidity and will not work well when there is high humidity
  • 2 feet of PVC pipe
  • Wool, fur or silk
    1. Take the PVC pipe on hold it on one end.
    2. Hold the wool, fur or silk around the pipe, without your hand touching the pipe.
    3. The material up and down the pipe quickly, until you hear a crackling sound. Note: The results will subject to the humidity.
    4. Remove the object and move the area of the pipe you rubbed by your arm, ear, hair and face.
    5. Write down your observations.

    Explanation:

    The earth acts as really big magnet with a magnetic field. The magnet aligns itself with the magnetic field of the earth.

    Experiment – Advanced Static Electric generator

    Items needed:

    • Note: this experiment is subject too humidity and will not work well when there is high humidity
    • 1 foot of 3 or 4 inch and 2 end caps PVC pipe
    • 14 inch 2×4 board
    • 2 feet of 1×4 board
    • 2 – 3 inch – 3/8 inch carriage bolts/li>
    • 4 – 3/8 inch nuts for the carriage bolts
    • 4 – 3/8 inch washers
    • 3/8 inch drill bit and drill.
    • 4 – 1 ½ or 1 ¼ inch screws
    • crank? Washers, nuts, some extender and a handle?
    • Wool, fur or silk

    The experiment:

    1. Take the PVC caps on drill a how in the middle of each end.
    2. From the inside of the caps thread the carriage and thread and tighten nuts.
    3. Drill holes bigger than 3/8 inches, 3 inches from the top and in the middle of the 4 inch boards.
    4. Add washer to the carriage bolts and put the bolts through the holes in the boards
    5. Insert the PVC pipe to the caps
    6. Screw the other end of the boards to the 2 x 4 inch board
    7. Add a washer and nut to the carriage bolts, but don’t tighten the nuts to the board, so the caps can spin freely.
    8. Handle?
    9. Hold the wool, fur or silk around the pipe, without your hand touching the pipe.
    10. The material up anddown the pipe quickly, until you hear a crackling sound. Note: The results will subject to the humidity.
    11. Remove the object and move the area of the pipe you rubbed by your arm, ear, hair and face.
    12. Write down your observations.

    The earth acts as really big magnet with a magnetic field. The magnet aligns itself with the magnetic field of the earth.

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