Dramatic demonstration of the repulsion between like charges.
Equipment:
1. Wimshurst machine (large) 2. Ping -pong pie pan set 3. 2 short A-A leads 4. Plexiglas box
Option--Ping-pong popper can be set on top of Van de Graaff instead of using the Wimshurst.
Procedure:
1. Setup as shown. Move the Wimshurst discharge arms outward away from each other as shown. 2. Place the ping-pong set on top of plexiglas box to isolate it from ground. 3. Be sure that the A-A leads are isolated from each other and from ground. Attach one to top pan & other to bottom pan. 4. Crank Wimshurst machine. As you gain speed & charge the ball will bounce rapidly up & down. Caution: to discharge the Wimshurst, carefully swing the discharge arms to the middle of the apparatus until they touch.