A group of friends and physicists at the University of Sydney conduct experiments with a Van de Graaff generator. The generator creates an electric potential difference, allowing for the buildup of static electricity. They demonstrate the effects of static electricity on hair, with a person standing on an insulated surface and holding onto the generator to build up a charge. The hair of the person stands up due to the like charges repelling each other. They also discuss the concept of electric potential and how it relates to the experiment.
The group also talks about the safety precautions they take to avoid electrical shock and how the generator works. They mention that the generator can produce up to 300,000 volts and that they are careful not to touch any metal objects while conducting the experiment.
After the hair-standing experiment, they discuss a related concept called the "pinch effect," where a strong magnetic field can cause a metal rod to deform and pinch itself together. They show a demonstration of this effect using a lightning rod that was hit by lightning and deformed as a result.
Throughout the experiment, the group is enthusiastic and excited about the physics they are demonstrating, and they have a good time learning and exploring together.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The experiment was conducted at the University of Sydney.
2. The Van de Graaff generator was used to create static charge and electricity.
3. The generator can produce a spark of up to 30 centimeters in length.
4. The spark is equivalent to a voltage of around 900,000 volts.
5. A person standing on an insulating surface can safely touch the generator and build up a charge.
6. When a person's hair is charged, it can stand on end due to the repulsion of individual strands.
7. The charge can be discharged by touching a grounded object, such as a table.
8. A person's charge can be stored for a short period of time if they are insulated from the ground.
9. The experiment demonstrates the concept of electric potential and the flow of charge.
10. A lightning rod that was hit by lightning was shown, and it was deformed by the strong magnetic field created by the current.
11. The deformation is known as the pinch effect, and it can be demonstrated using a transformer and a current.