Re: Van de Graaff cleaning

["GARY HEMMINGER" <HEMMIG@d-e.pvt.k12.nj.us>]

The other thing to clean is the plexiglass cylinder which supports 
the dome.  If this is dirty charge seems to leak right back down to 
the base.  My impression this time around was that the particulate 
nature of the dust on the dome was a factor, since a rough surface 
begins to be the equivalent of a surface with many little lightning 
rods on it. 

> I myself had only limited success with Van de Graff. But as I was reading the
> manual, it talked about cleaning the surface of the dome and the belt as well
> as one can to remove oil and grease that builds up over a period of time. There
> was mention of using a hair dryer as well. There was no mention of this in the
> list. So I thought I would mention it. I haven't tried it since. If you tried
> this process, please let us know if it worked.
>
> Abby 
>
>   -------------------------------------
 | Gary Hemminger                      |
 | Dwight-Englewood School             |
 | 315 E. Palisade Ave.                |
 | Engelwood, NJ 07631                 | 
 |                                     |
 | e-mail:  HEMMIG@D-E.PVT.K12.NJ.US   |
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