NextPrevious

Electricity

Van De Graaff Generators

What happens if you touch the Van de Graaff generator?

If you place your hands on the upper sphere while the generator is charging it the electric charges accumulating on the sphere move onto your body as they are repelled by the other charges. When your body has enough charge your hair may stand up on end because the electric charges on the hair repel each other. You won’t be hurt because the current through your body is very small. Just don’t touch anything or anyone else!



Close

This is a web preview of the "The Handy Physics Answer Book" app. Many features only work on your mobile device. If you like what you see, we hope you will consider buying. Get the App