Normal motors are driven by electromagnetic forces. This motor needs no batteries, mains supply or solar cells. Electrostatic motors are turned by the kind of electricity generated by wearing nylon clothes in a modern office. Think of it as gigantic nano-technology as well, because this is how the microscopic motors of nanobots work.
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Signing UpStep 1: Gather your materials.
For the basic motor, you need a disposable plastic drinking cup, aluminium foil, glue-stick, bamboo or dowel (at least a centimetre or two longer than the cup is tall), wire and a non-conducting base, such as a plastic plate or a wooden board.
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i have a question, one part of copper wire goes connected to earth and to a static electricity fuel or to a baloon, the other part of wire... goes where?
thanks
We tended to make the foils in pairs to make it easier to balance the rotor.
My first questions would be "Was the weather humid?", and "Were you in contact with bare metal on the radiator?".
I bought a cheap refurb Van de Graaff off e-bay and it arrived today. The thing is, the generator makes so much electrostatic wind that a plain plastic cup will turn in any case - no need for the foil!
I made my rotor using mylar film from a crisp-bag (chip-bag if you are American) and it seemed to work very well. Turned when the other end of the wire was about a foot from the VdeG. No need to actually contact the dome.
I think the friction on the cup is just so low that it turns with the slightest breath. Certainly you don't need to be anywhere near contacting the dome once its charged up to make it spin (that's the rotor with the mylar strips). It wil easily turn a plain cup by the wind it produces, but you need to contact the dome for that one.
If you only have a couple of feet of spare wire, find an extension lead. Touch the plug end to your ground, and stick the spare wire into the socket end at your motor.
You could, though, charge the jar and then use it to run the motor...
Connect the the Earth (or "ground") instead. Use a longer wire and touch it to bare metal on a cold-water pipe. The container of water will charge up, but not allow that charge to flow away. When it is as charged as the TV, the static will stop flowing, and the motor will stop.
just in case you didnt know
:-D