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The World's Simplest Electrostatic Machine

by innovationview on September 2, 2008

Table of Contents

The World's Simplest Electrostatic Machine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Intro: The World's Simplest Electrostatic Machine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 1: Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Step 2: Place the Aluminum over the cutting board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Step 3: Cover the borders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Step 4: Operating the machine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Step 5: Operating detail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Step 6: See it working . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Worlds-Simplest-Electrostatic-Machine/
Intro: The World's Simplest Electrostatic Machine
With a simple plastic cutting board you can build an electrostatic generating device, powerful enough to produce little shocks and even small sparks. This is a really
simple project that can be made in very little time: the power of electricity is just a few steps away!
Also see how to build a Van de Graaff Generator - plans at: http://www.innovationview.com/vdg.html

http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Worlds-Simplest-Electrostatic-Machine/
Step 1: Materials
You will need:
- A plastic cutting board
- Aluminum foil
- Electrical tape
- Stick glue
- A soft cloth

http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Worlds-Simplest-Electrostatic-Machine/
Step 2: Place the Aluminum over the cutting board
Cut the Aluminum foil in a piece enough to cover the major part of the cutting board leaving about 1/2âۥ on both ends uncovered.
Glue the cut Aluminum foil over one side of the cutting board, making sure it is stretched.

Step 3: Cover the borders

Cover the borders of the Aluminum with Electrical tape. You can cover the four boarders or just the smaller two.

IS THAT SIMPLE ! YOUR ELECTROSTATIC MACHINE IS READY!

http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Worlds-Simplest-Electrostatic-Machine/
Step 4: Operating the machine
To operate the machine hold the cutting board with one hand and rub the surface without Aluminum using the soft cloth.

Step 5: Operating detail

While rubbing touch the Aluminum foil with one finger of the hand that is holding the board.
Just touch and release one time while still rubbing, then apart the cloth and your machine will became charged.

http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Worlds-Simplest-Electrostatic-Machine/
Step 6: See it working
If you touch the Aluminum with a Neon lamp you can see it brights for a second.
Touching the Aluminum part with your finger you will fell a little shock and touching with an round metallic object you can see a small spark.

Hint : If you have trouble operating the machine and think it is not working , it is probable because humidity: blown hot air over the board and over the cloth, it should
works now.

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http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Worlds-Simplest-Electrostatic-Machine/
Comments
12 comments Add Comment

teslacoilguitaramp,helpmeplz says: Mar 5, 2011. 5:31 PM REPLY

would this work with a leyden jar?

turner_chris1 says: Aug 4, 2010. 5:22 AM REPLY

is this what's normally called an "electrophorus" see the wiki article -

nutsandbolts_64 says: Oct 14, 2010. 3:24 AM REPLY

apparently not.... it's just static electricity powering a small light bulb...

impedance214 says: Oct 2, 2009. 2:25 AM REPLY

do this electrostatic machine can be used as a source of electrostatic electricity for my electrostatic motor?

innovationview says: Oct 4, 2009. 1:08 PM REPLY

You can try... but the charge generated from this device is normally too small to produce strong electrostatic effects.

kevinsa5 says: Jul 19, 2010. 9:18 AM REPLY

does it just need more capacity? you could probably increase the stored charge by putting several layers of aluminum foil on.

ravebot says: Oct 6, 2008. 3:24 PM REPLY

thanks fun to play with

miiwii3 says: Feb 21, 2009. 7:04 PM REPLY

HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE ACTUALLY TRYED THIS

ravebot says: Mar 1, 2009. 7:41 PM REPLY

what?

dragonsniper says: Jul 15, 2009. 8:10 PM REPLY

does this actually work

zimmemic25 says: Oct 2, 2009. 12:37 PM REPLY

yes. even before having tried it, i knew it must work, because: - the aluminium can store electric charge - rubbing the cloth on the aluminium
will cause it to charge - touching the aluminium while rubbing it with the cloth will decharge it, so it will be uncharged _as long as you are
touching/rubbing it with the cloth_. -> this means as soon as you take away the cloth, the aluminium will be charged.

zimmemic25 says: Oct 2, 2009. 12:44 PM REPLY

i just remembered that i once had to charge an electroscope for school, and because all van-de-graaff generators were in use, i took my
Polyethylene lunch box and rubbed it with my sweatshirt's arms. that produced enough charge for the electroscope to react more than
with some of my classmate's generators...

http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Worlds-Simplest-Electrostatic-Machine/