Electricity & Magnetism: Confetti/Pie Pans

PIRA Class: 5B10.25

Purpose:
To demonstrate the electric force on a charged object within an electric field about a second charged object. 

Description: 

Confetti (puffed wheat or Styrofoam peanuts) flies off the dome of the Van de Graaff generator. DO WE HAVE A LITTLE RING OR SOMETHING TO PUT CONFETTI IN RATHER THAN NEEDING A CUP WITH A BOTTOM?

See Demo: 5A50.30 Van de Graaff Generator for demo preparation and operation

ALTERNATIVE: Place a stack of aluminum pie pan atop the Van de Graaff generator. When turn on, charge will transfer from dome to each pie pan resulting in the pie pans flying off the generator one at a time.

Equipment:
Van de Graaff generator, grounding rod, Confetti - puffed wheat or Styrofoam "peanuts"

Location:
Shelf 312, 352