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MAKING A HOMEMADE VAN DE GRAAFF GENERATOR

Step-by-Step Instructions

Great Science Project for Kids

Cheap and Easy to Build

Weekend Project

Parental Supervision

Required

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

JesseCorp Electroniucs

sciencefairideas@aol.com

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Hey kids! Want to impress everyone on your block with the coolest science project ever! Then this weekend project is just for you. With the help of your parents you can create your very own Van de Graaff generator and make your hair levitate with the help of science.

WHAT IS IT? A Van de Graaff generator

uses a moving belt that

carries electric charge up to a

metal dome. This is a lot like

when you rub your socks on

a rug and collect charge that

you can use to shock people.

In this case when you touch

the dome the charge flows

through your finger tips and

to the ends of your hair.

Since the charges are the

same sign they repel each

other like when you try to

push two magnets together

with the same magnetic side.

Figure 1. How a Van de Graaff Generator Works (1)

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LIST OF MATERIALS

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Parts Description Images

1 ¼’ PVC Coupling

2.

1 ½’ x 1 ¼’ PVC Bushing

3.

1 ¼’ x 1 ¼’ x 1’ PVC Tee

4.

1 ¼’ x 18’ PVC Pipe

5.

3’ x 1 ½’ PVC Coupling

6.

5

3-9V Small DC Motor

7.

1’ Bamboo Skewer

8.

4 AA Batteries

9.

1 ¼’ x ¼’ Glass fuse

10.

¼’ x 12’ Rubber Band

11.

6

1 Soda Can

12.

14 gauge Stranded Wire

13.

1 AA Battery Pack

14.

1 Electric Tape

15.

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1 Battery Snap Connector

16.

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TOOLS NEEDED Images

Hot Glue Gun

17.

Drill

18.

Pliers

19.

Wire Strippers

20.

Candle

21.

9

Soldering Iron

22.

Can Opener

23.

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INSTRUCTIONS

NOTE:

PARENTAL

SUPERVISION REQUIRED

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MAKING THE BASE

Figure 2. The base of the Van de Graaff (24)

1. Connect the narrow end of the PVC coupling with the 1 ½ inch

end of the PVC Bushing.

2. Cut about 2 inches of the 1 ¼ inch PVC pipe and insert it into

the 1 ¼’ end of the PVC Bushing.

Caution: Parental Supervision needed for the following step.

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3. Connect one of the 1 ½’ ends of the tee connector to the free end of the 1 ¼’ pipe.

4. Cut another section of 1 ¼’ pipe about 15’ long.

PREPARING THE MOTOR

Figure 3: DC motor wrapped in electrical tape (25)

1. Wrap electrical tape around the shaft of the motor to gradually extend it.

2. Wrap the body of the DC motor with electrical tape to snuggly fit

within the outward facing Tee opening.

Caution: Parental Supervision needed for the following step.

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3. Thread the rubber band down the top open end of the Tee

connector and around the shaft of the generator.

PEPARE THE FUSE

1. Use pliers to hold one end of the glass fuse and hold the other

metal end of the glass fuse over a lit candle.

2. After 30 seconds remove the glass fuse from the flame and use the

pliers to wiggle off the exposed metal end of the fuse.

3. Remove the wire within the fuse with the pliers.

Caution: Parental Supervision needed for the following step.

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DRILL HOLES

1. Drill a hole just in the PVC Tee just above the shaft of the DC

motor.

2. Drill a hole about 1’ from the top of one end of the previously cut

15’ long PVC pipe section.

3. Drill another hole just below the previously drilled hole

Caution: Parental Supervision needed for the 3 following

steps.

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THREADING TOP ASSEMBLY 1. Thread one end of the bamboo skewer through the farthest hole from

the top of PVC pipe. (Make sure not to the thread the skewer all the way

through the pipe)

2. Now thread the glass fuse through the skewer.

3. Pull the rubber band through long section of pipe and around the glass

fuse. Now feed the skewer all the way through pipe and fit the pipe in

the tee connector.

4. Hot glue the skewer in place.

5. Cut a 5’’ length of wire and strip one end of the insulation. Insert the

bare end into the base through the drilled hole. Make sure the strands

are spread out and the wire is close but not touching the rubber band.

6. Cut a 2’’ length wire and strip both ends to. Now feed one of the wire

through the remaining hole just above the glass fuse and rubber band

assembly. Like the bottom wire, make sure the strands are spread out

and close to but not touching the rubber band. For now secure the other

end of the wire to the pipe using electrical tape.

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SODA CAN 1. Get an empty soda can and remove the lid using a can opener.

2. Attach the other end of the top wire strand to the inside of the

Aluminum can using electric tape.

3. Place the can over the top of the PVC Pipe and take down with

electrical tape.

BATTERIES 1. Place the 4 AA batteries in the battery pack.

2. Connect the battery pack to the 9v battery snap collector.

3. Connect the loose ends of the battery snap collector to the DC motor

terminals.

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FINAL ASSEMBY

Figure 4: Your Homemade Van de Graaff Generator (26)

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NOW TIME TO USE YOUR VAN DE

GRAAFF GENERATOR!!

After 10 mins touch the aluminum can with your hand and watch your

hair levitate!!

You can also tape slits of paper onto the aluminum can and watch as they levitate.

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