Re: mist maker / electrostatic motor

[Rick Tarara <rbtarara@SPRYNET.COM>]

Both the 3 MeV standard Van de Graaff and the 8 MeV tandem Van de Graaff at
Notre Dame could be charged to either polarity (although the tandem acted
only as a single ended machine when charged negatively).  There was an
active 'electron' group in the Nuclear Structure Lab that used this feature.
I never knew all the technical details on how the machines charged
negatively, but it wasn't all that difficult.

Rick

----- Original Message -----
From: "Leigh Palmer" <palmer@SFU.CA>

> A van de Graaff Generator is self-excited. If it is symmetrical
> (top and bottom takeoff brushes identical) it should be possible to
> produce either polarity of charge on the dome. I've tried initially
> biasing our vdG with a battery, but I always get the same final
> polarization direction. Should I try a Wimshurst to bias it?

> Leigh