Van de Graaff Generator made from junk

This is instructions on how I built a Van de Graaff generator from junk lying about my house.(And I do mean junk.)

Step 1: Parts

Okay, the first thing you will want to do is gather all of the necessary parts. They include 1 pencil with ereaser, two dried out old click pen parts, a piece of 8in. long PVC pipe, 1 dead light bulb, 1ft long piece of 2 by 4, a elastic band, one metal paper clip, aluminum foil, see through tape, one small toy motor, 9 volt battery, and some junk wire. A good sense of humor and a few band-aids would come in handy too.

Comments

[dng8]

here's another website from MAKE http://blog.makezine.com/projects/simple-van-de-graaff-generator/

[marvel_x23]

what can be used instead of the pvc tube

[scristian]

i made a shake machine :(

[scristian]

Does it still work if i use 1 engine on the top roller and one on the bottom one?
also i covered the top roler with somme duct tape so that the ruber band stays centered.

PS:for somme reason mine doesn't do anything other that shake

[awesomecreations]

Haha, read the title of this step...

[Velin9]

also can you use a plastic straw instead of the pen tube?

[Velin9]

Can you use a piece of foam for the base instead of the wood or not?

btw this looks like a very cool project. good job.
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[mohtashim]

Where the bottom brush has to be attached?

[FREEZZZINGICE]

Does it actully work?

[SgBriggs]

dose the grounding wire need to touch the ground or the - terminal on the battery or a wand so you can do the lightning stick thing?

[frederickgraff]

Check out www.physicsplayground.com for extreme Van de Graaff generators!! Its a must see!!

[teslapulsa94]

how thick pvc?

[CoolDon]

and if we attach a 9 volt battery to a toy motor wont it burn?

[CoolDon]

Hey can we run something on this one because i need to do it for ma science fair project

[swaghmare]

where does the another end of the bottom wire go????
plz reply fast.

[CoolDon]

Its a ground wire i think so!

[Aron313]

Do you have a video on it?

[Isaac Laserman]

video please

[onlymadhur007]

can anybody plz send me the pdf file for it?
i need it urgently as m havin an exhibition in school.

Thanx :)

[KronoNaut]

Am I assuming correctly that you attach the top lead to the aluminum foil, and not the metal part of the bulb?

[Daxuto]

Yeah, connecting to the metal of the bulb would just attach to the filaments, however, what we want is charge to build up in the foil sphere outside.

[maryamyam]

is the top wire attached to BOTH the light bulb and the upper rubber band?

[SCIENCEPAL]

Nice project for a science fair!!!!

[Tobor 2.0]

Can you leave out the bottom wire? I want to know the point of the bottom wire.

[joshuaw97]

the bottom wire is to keep the generator grounded.

[builder23]

I REALLY need to know if this generator works. i am doing a science fair project on electrostatic electricity, and have already tried to build one of these from another website. Somebody please respond!

[rocketbat]

LOL!" super size it and send your neighbors annoying cat into the next century" that is just what i intend to do!

[cheezy monkey]

Been there.
Done that.

=D

[yetibunny]

You could also send your neigbor with them!   >: )

[eric m]

photography here is awful.

how bout some closeups of the comb and pulley.

[Daniel Deacon]

does it have to be PVC? or could the tube be Cardboard or something else thank you :D

[Crazy-Inventor]

Hi,
Can u plz tell me how much volts will this generator produce?
and one more question if it produces high voltage then why can't we use it for electicity supply for home.
waiting 4 reply.
Thnx
-Jerin

[SLDxRaPiiDZz]

because this needs a motor, I think it produces electrostatic energy.

[Crazy-Inventor]

thank you

[tecnokid]

why do we have to have a burnt lamp instead of a working one

[Grundalizer]

 Where is it in action?

[mstryker]

thats what she said

[prncess_101]

What brushes are you talking bout?

[gmartínez schacht]

The brushes can be stranded copper wires

[gmartínez schacht]

Hey there, could youplease specify if its a broken lamp or a burned one? Also, a xmas globe culd work instead of a lamp?