We Can Figure This Out.org
Virtual Lab: Van de Graaff Generators
 University of Virginia
             
 
© 2003-Present, John C. Bean
 
To understand how a high voltage is produced, we need to take a closer look at the belt and pulley.

The pulley is made from a special plastic (such as "Bakelite").

Here, in virtual reality, we fade away most of the pulley leaving only some of its surface atoms.

The size of these atoms has been hugely exaggerated to make them visible!

 
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