Van De Graaff Generator

Samson4 · Sep 19, 2015

If you run a wire from the outside surface of the dome to the inside of the same dome, would it be possible to make a spark to the inside surface of the same dome?

mfb · Sep 19, 2015

With a conducting connection between the two parts? No. They will be at the same potential.

Samson4 · Sep 19, 2015

How come? The dome is at a higher potential than the belt thats charging it.

mfb · Sep 19, 2015

Not at the point where the charges are extracted (neglecting the tiny resistances and current flow in the material).

Samson4 · Sep 19, 2015

Okay, will this capacitor charge? The cap and ground are shielded from the belt and rotor.

mfb · Sep 19, 2015

How do you get a ground connection in the middle? If you take a cable out, it will charge.

Samson4 · Sep 19, 2015

I just didn't want to clutter the diagram; but yes, a cable is going outside the dome to ground.

I was always told that the inside of the dome is neutral or had no potential.

mfb · Sep 19, 2015

It has no electric field - unless you add a connection to ground. That's not the same as no potential (which does not exist anyway - a potential can be zero but it cannot be nonexistent).

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Van De Graaff Generator

Samson4

mfb

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Samson4

mfb

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Samson4

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mfb

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Samson4

mfb

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