1

INTRODUCTION
A Van de Graaff generator is an electrostatic
generator which uses a moving belt to
accumulate electric charge on a hollow metal globe on
the top of an insulated column, creating very
high electric potentials. It produces very high
voltage direct current (DC) electricity at low current
levels. It was invented by American physicist
Robert J. Van de Graaff in 1929. The potential
difference achieved by modern Van de Graaff
generators can be as much as 5 megavolts. A tabletop
version can produce on the order of 100,000 volts
and can store enough energy to produce a visible
spark. Small Van de Graaff machines are produced for
entertainment, and for physics education to
teach electrostatics; larger ones are displayed in
some science museums.
The Van de Graaff generator was developed as
a particle accelerator for physics research; its high
potential is used to accelerate subatomic
particles to great speeds in an evacuated tube. It
was the most powerful type of accelerator of the
1930s until the cyclotron was developed. Van de
Graaff generators are still used as accelerators to
generate energetic particle and X-ray beams
for nuclear research and nuclear medicine.
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 3

HISTORY
The Van de Graaff generator was developed,
starting in 1929, by physicist Robert J. Van de Graaff at
Princeton University on a fellowship, with help from
colleague Nicholas Burke. The first model was
demonstrated in October 1929. The first machine used
an ordinary tin can, a small motor, and a silk ribbon
bought at a five- and-dime store where upon he went to
the head of the physics department requesting a
hundred dollars to make an improved version. He did
get the money, but with some difficulty. By 1931 he
could report achieving 1.5 million volts, saying "The
machine is simple, inexpensive, and portable. An
ordinary lamp socket furnishes the only power needed.
According to a patent application, it had two 60-cm-
diameter charge-accumulation spheres mounted on
borosilicate glass columns 180 cm high, the apparatus
cost only $90 in 1931. Van de Graaff applied for a
second patent in December 1931, which was assigned
to MIT in exchange for a share of net income. The
patent was later granted. In 1933, Van de Graaff built a
40-foot (12-m) model at MIT's Round Hill facility, the
use of which was donated by Colonel Edward H.R.
Green.
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PRINCIPLE

Corona Discharge :-
Discharging action of sharp points, i.e., electric
discharge takes place in air or gases readily, at pointed
conductors. If the charged conductor is brought in to
internal contact with a hollow conductor, all of its
charge transfers to the surface of the hollow conductor
and scatters uniformly over it no matter how high the
potential of the latter may be.
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CONSTRUCTION
Van de Graaff generator consists of a large hollow metallic
sphere S mounted on two insulated supporting columns C1
and C2. An endless belt of an insulating material is mounted
on pulleys P1 and P2. The pulley P1 is run by a motor. Two
sharp combs B1 and B2 are fixed near the pulleys P1 and P2
respectively touching the belt. Comb B1 is called spray comb,
while comb B2 is called collecting comb.
The positive ion to be accelerated is produced in a
discharge tube D. The ion source lies at the head of the tube in
the sphere. Target is at the other end of the tube that is
earthed. The whole assembly is enclosed in a chamber filled
with nitrogen or methane gas at high pressure.
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WORKING
The spray comb is given a positive potential of the
range 104 V with respect to earth using high tension
source. Due to the positive charge on the comb B1
electric wind is set and it sprays positive charge on the
belt. As the belt moves and reaches the top of pulley P2
the negative charge is induced on the sharp ends of the
collecting comb B2. The equal positive charge is
induced on the far end of the comb B2. Now, the far end
of B2 and the sphere are connected. This positive
charge on the far side of B2 moves immediately to the
outer surface of the sphere.
Due to discharging action of sharp edges of comb B2
negative electric winds are set and its discharges
negative charge on the belt. Thus the positive charge on
the belt is neutralized. This is repeated continuously.
Thus positive charge gets accumulated on the outer
surface of the sphere S.
Now the capacity of the spherical conductor is given
by:
C=4πɛ0rk
V= Q/C = Q/4πɛ0kr
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The breakdown voltage for air is 3 x 106 V/m

beyond which air around the sphere is ionized and
leakage takes place. This leakage is minimized by
enclosing the assembly in a chamber filled with
nitrogen or methane at high pressure.
Projectiles like protons, deuterons etc. can be
generated in a discharge tube D and are accelerated in
a downward direction along the length of the tube. The
accelerated projectile hits the target with large kinetic
energy and bring about artificial transmutation.
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USES
It is used to create a high potential of a range
of few million volts.
It is used to accelerate projectiles like protons,
deuterons, etc. which hit the target with large
kinetic energy and bring about artificial
transmutation.
It is used to study collision experiments in
physics.
Such beam is used for the treatment of cancer.

Spark by the largest air-insulated

Van de Graaff generator in the world at
The Museum of Science in Boston, Massachusetts
9

Van de Graaff
generator for
educational use
in schools

With sausage-
shaped top
terminal
removed

Comb electrode
at bottom that
deposits charge
onto belt

Comb electrode
at top that
removes charge
from belt
 10

ENTERTAINMENT
AND
EDUCTIONAL
GENERATORS

Woman touching Van

de Graaff generator
at the American
Museum of Science
and Energy

An educational program at
the Theatre of
Electricity, Boston Museum
of Science demonstrates the
world's largest air-insulated
Van de Graaff generator,
built by Van de Graaff in the
1930s.
 11

HOW HAVE PARTICLE

ACCELERATORS
IMPROVED CONSUMER
PRODUCTS?
Worldwide, hundreds of industrial processes
use particle accelerators from the
manufacturing of computer chips to the cross-
linking of plastic for shrink wrap and beyond.
Electron-beam applications centre on the
modification of material properties, such as the
alteration of plastics, for surface treatment, and
for pathogen destruction in medical
sterilization and food irradiation. Ion-beam
accelerators, which accelerate heavier particles,
find extensive use in the semiconductor
industry in chip manufacturing and in hardening
the surfaces of materials such as those used in
artificial joints.
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LIMITATIONS
It produces very low intensity of current as
compared to voltage.
Maintenance and construction is costly and
the generator is bulky.
For air, a maximum of 3 million volt can be
generated as after that air will ionize.
It cannot accelerate neutral particles.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_de_Graaff_
generator
https://www.slideshare.net/bariktanmoy98/
van-de-graaff-generator-class-12-
investigatory
http://www.examfear.com/notes/Class-
12/Physics/Capacitance/898/VAN-DE-
GRAAFF-Generator.htm
https://www.google.com/search?q=van+de+g
raaff+generator&source
Class XII NCERT PHYSICS PART 1 for Cass XII
XII