PURPOSE: To demonstrate electrostatic repulsion in a dramatic way.

DESCRIPTION: While standing on a insulating platform, touch your hands to the top of the Van de Graaff dome, then have someone turn it on. The fact that your hair stands on end is a result of the repulsion between charges of the same sign that collect on your hair.

SUGGESTIONS: Use the grounding probe to ground the Van de Graaff dome. Then turn the Van de Graaff off. Make sure all the static electricty is grounded before removing the test subject from the generator.

EQUIPMENT: Van de Graaff generator with ground sphere, insulating platform, victim.

SETUP TIME: 30 min.