PURPOSE: To demonstrate electrostatic repulsion.
DESCRIPTION: A group of aluminum pie pans is placed on top of the Van de Graaff dome and the Van de Graaff is turned on. The pie pans are pushed off the top of the dome one at a time by the electrostatic repulsion. Use this as a way to argue that electrostatic forces might be stronger than gravitational forces.
SUGGESTIONS:
EQUIPMENT: Van de Graaff generator, aluminum pie pans.
SETUP TIME: 5 min.
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