Why does your hair stand on end when you touch a Van de Graaff generator?

This is all down to static electricity.

Inside the Van de Graaff generator, there is a rubber band and rollers. As they are electrically insulated, when the motor turns they rub together and electrons are 'knocked' off causing a positive charge. 

In order to try and reach an equilibrium, electrons from the dome (and anything touching it) move to the positively charged rubber band causing it to slowly gain a positive charge.

If you are also touching the dome, you will slowly become positively charged including each of your hairs. As like charges repel, and hair is very light, they will try and get as far away from each other as possible, causing them to stand up.

TW
Answered by Tom W. Physics tutor

73303 Views

See similar Physics GCSE tutors

Related Physics GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Explain why the velocity of a car moving at a constant speed around a bend changes.


What is the power dissipated by a 12 Ohm resistor when 2A of current run through it?


If fusing hydrogen nuclei together puts them into a lower energy state, and matter always wants to be in a lower energy state, then why hasn't all the hydrogen in the universe already done this?


A rollercoaster carriage wants to go up a slope of length 10m at an angle of 30 degrees above the horizontal, at what speed must the carriage be travelling at the bottom of the slope in order for it to reach the top? (Negligable Drag)


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences