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video $1 Electrostatic Levitation Toy (Video)
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This is a curious effect I've been experimenting with over the last week, and I've finally decided to make a how-to-make video about it.
This effect is REAL. It's called Van Der Graaf levitation. It's been around for awhile now, you can even buy a commercial toy version of this device. However, the commercial one uses batteries and costs about $30...
Basically, it's a statically charged PVC pipe that can levitate some thin mylar plastic. It's an awesome effect, and so cheap to make. It would make a head turning Christmas gift for sure! (did I mention how cheap it is to make !??!?!!?!)
What you need:
14'' 3/4'' diam PVC pipe ($0.75)
Fuzzy fabric. Get a scrap of fleece at a fabric store. Fake fur works the best, hands down.
Mylar film (negligible cost). You can find mylar at any store that has a good selection of tissue paper. I got a lifetime worth of it at Michaels Craft store for $2. The mylar on mylar balloons should work also. There's another video out there that shows you how to make this, and he uses christmas tree tinsel. Personally, I think tinsel is a pain to deal with on account of it being so thin and easily tangled.
NOTE: This thing a lot more fun than it looks. Try it for yourself!
This is a curious effect I've been experimenting with over the last week, and I've finally decided to make a how-to-make video about it.
This effect is REAL. It's called Van Der Graaf levitation. It's been around for awhile now, you can even buy a commercial toy version of this device. However, the commercial one uses batteries and costs about $30...
Basically, it's a statically charged PVC pipe that can levitate some thin mylar plastic. It's an awesome effect, and so cheap to make. It would make a head turning Christmas gift for sure! (did I mention how cheap it is to make !??!?!!?!)
What you need:
14'' 3/4'' diam PVC pipe ($0.75)
Fuzzy fabric. Get a scrap of fleece at a fabric store. Fake fur works the best, hands down.
Mylar film (negligible cost). You can find mylar at any store that has a good selection of tissue paper. I got a lifetime worth of it at Michaels Craft store for $2. The mylar on mylar balloons should work also. There's another video out there that shows you how to make this, and he uses christmas tree tinsel. Personally, I think tinsel is a pain to deal with on account of it being so thin and easily tangled.
NOTE: This thing a lot more fun than it looks. Try it for yourself!
Regular cellophane works great, tissue paper works OK...if it's thin and light, it will work.
Except plastic shopping bags...they don't work and I don't know why :\
Win Guy
The long answer: A short pipe will make your hand go closer to the levitating orb. The orb will be attracted to you hand, and stick to it. If the pipe is too long, it will take forever to get a good static charge. 14 inches is a pretty in-between those two extremes.
Also, is that one of those 550 cord bracelets?
:)
I saw something similar made of a pvc-tube "tennis-racket-frame" and a balloon.
Y.
what am i doing wrong?
I know that cellophane (commonly known as 'saran wrap') works, and so does tissue paper (cellophane works better). Try one of those and see if you can't get it to work
I don't now it anymore, do you?
I know that in my climate this levitation is hard to do after it starts snowing. During wintertime, it's very humid indoors because of all the snow that gets tracked in and melted.
Today I was trying out the orb, but it wasn't flying very high. I Think it was because it had rained all morning, and the air was just too humid.
Is it snowing where you are? Raining? Do you live in a cool climate near the sea?
Good luck! :D
~neph