Description
Electrostatic machines are typically used in science classrooms to safely demonstrate electrical forces and high voltage phenomena. The elevated potential differences achieved have been also used for a variety of practical applications, such as operating X-ray tubes, medical applications, sterilization of food, and nuclear physics experiments. Electrostatic generators such as the Van de Graaff generator, and variations as the Pelletron, also find use in physics research.
Electrostatic generators can be divided into two categories depending on how the charge is generated:
- Friction machines use the triboelectric effect (electricity generated by contact or friction)
- Influence machines use electrostatic induction
Read more about this topic: Electrostatic Generator
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