Comments on: Static Electricity And The Machines That Make It https://hackaday.com/2024/09/30/static-electricity-and-the-machines-that-make-it/ Fresh hacks every day Sun, 13 Oct 2024 23:24:03 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 By: mrehorst https://hackaday.com/2024/09/30/static-electricity-and-the-machines-that-make-it/#comment-8050200 Sun, 13 Oct 2024 23:24:03 +0000 https://hackaday.com/?p=724201#comment-8050200 In reply to Andy.

I made a 500kV VDG using a pair of Ikea Blanda salad bowls to make the top terminal. They are nearly perfect hemispheres. I cut a hole in one of them using a cutoff wheel on a dremel tool, and welded some small bits of steel to the inside rim so that the bowl on top would stay in place.

More here: https://drmrehorst.blogspot.com/2017/09/this-is-what-can-you-do-with-3d-printer.html

]]> By: Jellmeister https://hackaday.com/2024/09/30/static-electricity-and-the-machines-that-make-it/#comment-8047360 Sat, 05 Oct 2024 09:09:30 +0000 https://hackaday.com/?p=724201#comment-8047360 In reply to WestfW.

This site is a great resource. https://www.coe.ufrj.br/~acmq/electrostatic.html At the bottom there is a Wimshurst calculator. Electrostatics are very complicated compared to normal electric systems because the air ionises and conducts, and insulators carry surface charge, and surface moisture which leaves them slightly conductive at extremes. On the face of it Wimshursts can be modelled as variable capacitances interacting, but at high voltage the glass carries more surface charge than the plates (like a Bonetti), the position of the neutralising brushes is blurred by corona discharge, and both air and insulators leak charge away in a humidity dependent way.

]]> By: Elby https://hackaday.com/2024/09/30/static-electricity-and-the-machines-that-make-it/#comment-8047276 Fri, 04 Oct 2024 22:09:48 +0000 https://hackaday.com/?p=724201#comment-8047276 In reply to Paul.

I made one of these, with help from my dad, as a science fair project in the 60’s. It was quite astounding to see a tiny neon bulb flashing at each discharge, powered only by the dripping of water through the copper rings. It was the science fiction that I had just begun to love, brought home to me!

]]> By: prfesser https://hackaday.com/2024/09/30/static-electricity-and-the-machines-that-make-it/#comment-8046746 Thu, 03 Oct 2024 16:01:47 +0000 https://hackaday.com/?p=724201#comment-8046746 Back in the Land of Ago, Mr. Wizard’s Science Secrets showed an impressive means of demonstrating static electricity that I used to advantage on my younger siblings. Have sibling stand on two glass pieplates, four glasses, other good insulators. Strike sibling on the back dozens of times with a piece of fur—striking siblings was part of the fun. Have sibling bring finger close to metal pipe or other ground. A hundred slaps on the back could generate a 1″ spark. One younger brother actually enjoyed the demo and wanted it repeated.

]]> By: spiritplumber@gmail.com https://hackaday.com/2024/09/30/static-electricity-and-the-machines-that-make-it/#comment-8045910 Tue, 01 Oct 2024 12:55:00 +0000 https://hackaday.com/?p=724201#comment-8045910 https://web.archive.org/web/20240927205654/http://amasci.com/weird/unusual/e-wall.html Did anyone ever follow up on this?

]]> By: SpillsDirt https://hackaday.com/2024/09/30/static-electricity-and-the-machines-that-make-it/#comment-8045905 Tue, 01 Oct 2024 12:20:28 +0000 https://hackaday.com/?p=724201#comment-8045905 In reply to craig.

I had a fuzzy poly something blanket with lions on it in the 80s that had amazing electrostatic capabilities. I would pile it up in a lump on the floor, kneel and bow my head, shake it back and forth a few times and reach out and throw bolts from my fingers that would stretch 3-5 cm and they werent just straight sparks but rather miniature lighting with branches and all. Ive never found another blanket that had that much potential.
its funny how much amusement that blanket provided in a time when the 4 TV stations went off air every night and the net was a tool for catching fish.

]]> By: Winston https://hackaday.com/2024/09/30/static-electricity-and-the-machines-that-make-it/#comment-8045896 Tue, 01 Oct 2024 11:49:37 +0000 https://hackaday.com/?p=724201#comment-8045896 In reply to WestfW.

Might be some quantitative info in this study:

Groundbreaking Study Finally Reveals How Rubbing Generates Static Electricity
September 20, 2024

https://scitechdaily.com/groundbreaking-study-finally-reveals-how-rubbing-generates-static-electricity/

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