Year 9 Physics: It’s Electrifying!

This term Year 9 physicists enjoyed the electrifying Van de Graaff generator experience that many of us will remember from our own school days. Pupils became positively charged as electrons were removed from their body via the dome which became positively charged by friction in the generator’s belt mechanism. Hair strands move away from each other because of the repulsive electrostatic force that exists between the ‘like’ positive charges in their hair.

The class also made mini lightning bolts, stuck paper to the wall with ‘magic glue’ aka a static wand, bent streams of water, investigated the gold leaf electroscope and heard Franklin’s Bells tinkle as part of our two week study of electrostatics.

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Year 9 physicists experience the electrifying Van de Graaff generator