Dynamo

Use a power supply (not shown) to run current through the 0.1m coils. Use the power supply shown to spin up disk to approx. 4000 rpm (Mike Brown can tell you how to determine the rpm). A potential difference between the outer rim of the wheel and the axel is induced and can be measured using a voltmeter.

Electrical Circuits (outreach set)

Demos in this set include:

Hand-cranked charge separator. Generate large sparks for
entertainment or for use in various electrostatic experiments.
Use generator to charge capacitor plates or Leyden Jar.
Dip conductive pith ball in between parallel plate capacitor
hooked to W-generator; crank W-generator; pith ball bounces back and forth
between plates.
Located in L01; section A2, covered in plastic bag.

Purpose: Demonstrate the importance of electromagnetic induction
in the operation of generators and motors.
Motors (right photo) consist of small coils of wire suspended
above niodym-magnets; coils rest upon bent wires, and bent wires are connected,
via clip leads, to a battery pack.
Generator (left photo) consists of a small coil of wire suspended
above a niodymium magnet; coil rests upon leads which are connected to a multimeter.

Location

When capacitor is charged by Wimshurst generator, dielectric plate experiences a force, pulling plate into capacitor.

Location

Principle: Static electricity is cool.
Located in L01, section A2
Van de Graaf accessories are located beneath Van de Graaff
generator in plastic containers.

Some ideas for experiments beyond the typical shock-myself-and-my-students:

Bend a paper clip into an L shape and tape it to the charged sphere to create
an ion gun; point the paper clip at the palm of your hand to feel the “ion
wind”. Point the paper clip at your shirt to charge your shirt up- after
30 seconds shirt should begin sticking to your chest.
Place a cup of styrofoam peanuts, or a stack of styro or aluminum plates
on top of the sphere, turn on generator and watch stuff fly.
Dim the room lights, touch one end of a fluorescent bulb to the charged
sphere and the other end of the bulb to the small discharging sphere. Bulb
will flicker.
Using a squirt gun shoot a stream of water past the charged sphere; water
should ionize and stream will disperse.

Listen to beat frequencies through speakers, while simultaneously seeing waves with oscilloscope. Use scope’s math function to add waves together. Resultant wave (shown in red, above) displays beats.
Demo consists of 2 function generators, 2 speakers, and one
oscilloscope.
Located in L02, section C2; Oscilloscope located in L35,
section F4