Van de Graaf Generator
I recently acquired three Van de Graaf generators
which were being discarded by my work place. This one is functional, the
other two need some work (they are stunningly simple inside). The insulating
column is 2" in diameter and 8" long. When the 1 7/8" steel ball ground
electrode is removed, arcs snapped between the top ball and the base (8"!),
but were too faint to show up on film. The label on the bottom of the base
reads:
MORRIS &
LEE, INC.
200 KV VAN DE GRAAF
MODEL 10-060
110 VAC, 60 Hz 0.5A
MADE IN U.S.A.
When I first started drawing arcs from this unit,
to a hand held metal key fob, I noticed a non-luminous discontinuity in
the sparks, about a quarter of an inch long and a quarter of an inch from
the top spree. I thought it was just a trick of the light, but it shows
up in the photo also. I have no idea what causes this.