Elecrostatic Repulsion

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Electrostatic Repulsion with a Van de Graaff Generator

PIRA 5B10.13

The pictures above and to the right illustrate several ways to demonstrate electrostatic repulsion with a Van de Graaff generator. The balls shown at top are ping-pong balls coated in colloidal graphite. A roll of masking tape is used to initially support the balls and the bits of fur in the photos at top right. The bottom aluminum tart pan in the photo at right is taped to the Van de Graaff.