Van De Graaff Generator, Dual Drive, United Scientific

This large Van de Graff generator uniquely offers alternative drive modes, either hand-cranked or motor driven.

Excellently constructed, the generator reliably delivers charge and sparks 10 cm long and more immediately on setting it in motion, even under high humidity conditions. In hand-crank mode the amount of charge generated can be seen to increase at higher cranking speeds, while the much faster motor-driven mode delivers a fast succession of sparks. The generator is 76 cm high and features a 28 cm diameter polished steel sphere, which is less vulnerable to dents and scratches than comparably sized aluminum spheres. A further unique feature is a built-in lamp close to the bottom of the belt that delivers a small amount of UV light when turned on. This can be seen to increase demand on the motor power. A set of accessories is included, containing a discharge wand with a grounding cord, an electric plume, an electric whirl, a discharge bulb, a cord for connecting other electrostatic demonstration items, a spare charge belt, and a spare motor drive belt.