Van de graaff without insulation?

[jxy]

Hi,

Why do all the designs for a Van de graaff generator have a insulated belt that delivers charge?

Couldn't I just connect the negative terminal of a battery to the inside and get the same effect?

Van de graaf from wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Van_de_graaf_generator.svg

 

[Naty1]

see the description here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_de_Graaff_generator


maybe you can...but if you use a conductor as you propose, seems like you have to generate the actual voltage (several million) whereas the van de graaf method builds that voltage for you via the insulated belt...a very clever mechanism!.