electricity.jpg (5852 bytes)

BEN FRANKLIN'S BELL



EQUIPMENT
    redball.gif (326 bytes) Wimshurst Machine
    redball.gif (326 bytes) Franklin's Bell
   

NARRATIVE

A metal ball is suspended between two vertical parallel plates on a stand which are connected to the Van de Graaff generator. The ball strikes one plate and obtains that charge; it is then repelled by that plate and is attracted to the other plate. The ball strikes the other plate, is discharged and obtains the charge of the plate it just struck, thus being repelled again. This sequence soon becomes very rapid and the ball begins to bounce from one plate to the other, sounding like a bell.


Does not work well in high humidity.