Build your own ball cyclotron
Watch this video:
We will be powering our cyclotron with a Van de Graaff generator.
We have built one for you to examine but your task is to build your own.
Instead of foil we have aluminium tape.
Equipment:
Salad bowl (non conducting)
Aluminium tape
Foil covered ping pong ball
Connecting leads.
Blank stickers.
Method:
Watch the video carefully and examine the made accelerator. Build your own and label where the +ve and -ve charge will build up and where is will be connected to the van de Graaff
Do not connect your device until is has been fully checked over. Take photos of the set up. Ask you teacher to set up the Van de Graaff. Make sure you video your creation.
Questions
1. Draw a labelled diagram on your cyclotron, clearly showing the +ve and -ve connections
2. Why does the ping pong ball need to be covered in foil?
3. Why does the ball move away from one strip and toward the next?
4. What would happen if you used a metal bowl rather than class or plastic?
5. Why does the ball need some momentum to make it spin?
6. How could you make it go faster?
