Static electricity/Howard Community College/Fall2012/p2-502-mw

Problem Statement

To build a new static electricity generator and harness enough static electricity to make an aluminum triangle float.

Team Members

Summary

Over the last four weeks we got the ball rolling on the static project. We compiled a materials list for what is needed to create the static machine with the dimensions we designed. We also built a simple bottle demonstration that has us crank the generator and will then spin the bottles. We made progress in getting the lifter project to float, and found that the triangle needs to be redesigned so that it can actually be lifted, because currently it is too heavy. We also designed and constructed two leyden jars.

Poster

Story

First Weekend

Pros/Cons	Wimhurst Machine	Bonetti Machine (No Sectors)
Pros	1) Self starting 2) Plans available 3) Program to aid design availible	1) Less complex to build 2) Less voltage leakage 3) Plans available
Cons	1) More complex to build 2) More voltage leakage	1) Not self starting

We found a complete online tutorial for building a wimhurst machine. [here]
We also found a great site about the history of static machines and a lot of information about them [here]
Lastly we examined a tutorial on charging a particle by induction to better understand how static electricity generators work.

Second Week Tasks

We will dismantle a roller blade for the wheels, build a Leyden jar, build a list of materials, make a list a list of interesting static electricity demonstrations, and continue working on getting the aluminum lifter to float.

Second Weekend

We found the top ten most interesting experiments involving electrostatic generators and put them in an excel so our fellow engineering students could vote on which experiment they would like to see, which can be found here.

We gathered information on leyden jar safety protocols and found a tutorial for a safe model.

We looked up safety procedures for the lifter projects and determined the different ways to make the triangle levitate.

Which [| demonstration] should we prepare?

Materials List	Dimensions/Quantity	Details
Polycarbonate or acrylic	40" length by 20" height (makes two disks)
Foam Board	20"x20"	Used to help put sectors on acrylic (prevents breakage).
Fiber glass rods	1	used as an axle.
Fluorescent lamp protector sleeve	1 sleeve	For Layden Jars
Two pulleys	same size 12cm diameter	Must be plastic
Two Inline skate wheels	1/4" grove cut into wheel
Circular Cutting Tool	able to cut a 9" radius	Probably have in shop
Sand paper		400 Grit (Very Fine)
Crosscut bastard file	1/4"
Step drill bit	1 bit	Able to make hole size 5/16"
X-Acto knife and scissors
Milk jug	1 jug	Used to make sector templates
Aluminum Tape	1 roll	Used to make sectors
staircase balusters (vertical support)	2 of them. about 14" tall
knick-knack shelf kit (base)	3/4" board (thick)
crank	larger is better	To turn machine
Brazing rod
Driveway Marker rod
Tubing		Copper for collection
Lamp chain pull balls
Lamp Finials	4	Put at the ends of the tubing
Pipe hangers	2 of them
Rubber feet	6 of them	For base bottom
Washers
O-ring belts		Length depends on pulley distance and size
Nuts	2
Wood screws
Drywall screws

Third Week Tasks

We are going to start building a leyden jar, locate the materials needed for the wimshurst machine on the web and link to them, get the triangle lifter to levitate, and create a materials list for the top three electrostatic experiments.

Week Three Results

We began construction on the first leyden jar and made plans for the a second larger leyden jar. Started building an additional materials list for the wimhurst pet bottle experiment, dancing balls experiment, and triangle lifter experiment, which can be found here.

Materials List	Dimensions/Quantity	Details	Link/Sku
Polycarbonate or acrylic	40" length by 20" height (makes two disks)	OPTIX 4' x 2' Clear Acrylic Sheet Item #: 11220 Model #: 11G0075A	[Lowes]
Foam Board	20"x20"	Used to help put sectors on acrylic (prevents breakage).	Insulfoam 3/4-in x 2-ft x 4-ft Expanded Polystyrene Insulated Sheathing [Lowes]
Fiber glass rods	1	used as an axle.	Blazer International Driveway Marker 48 in. Round Orange Fiberglass Rod Model # 381ODM Internet # 202498049 [Home Depot]
Fluorescent lamp protector sleeve	1 sleeve	For Layden Jars	48 in. - T12 - American PLAS-100275 Clear - Tube Guard with End Caps - Protective Lamp Sleeve [1000bulbs.com]
Two pulleys	same size 12cm diameter	Must be plastic	Blue Hawk 5-in Clothesline Pulley Item #: 349258 Model #: 7085BK [Lowes]
Two Inline skate wheels	1/4" grove cut into wheel	used for rotating acrylic disks (axles)	Already have
Circular Cutting Tool	able to cut a 9" radius	n/a	Probably have in shop
Sand paper	1 pack	400 Grit (Very Fine)	3M 5-Pack 400-Grit 3-5/87-in W x 9-in L Wet or Dry Sandpaper Item #: 283309 Model #: 5920ES [Lowes]
Crosscut bastard file	1/4"	used to cut grove in skate wheels	Probably have in shop
Step drill bit	1 bit	Able to make hole size 5/16"	Probably have in shop
X-Acto knife and scissors	cutting	general tool	Probably have in shop
Milk jug	1 jug	Used to make sector templates	Probably have in shop
Aluminum Tape	1 roll	Used to make sectors	Reflectix 2-in x 30-ft Reflective Foil Tape Item #: 135512 Model #: FT210 [Lowes]
staircase balusters (vertical support)	2 of them. about 14" tall	Probably have materials in shop
knick-knack shelf kit	3/4" board (thick)	used for base	Probably have in shop
crank	larger is better	To turn machine	Prime-Line 3/8-in White Crank Item #: 195778 Model #: H 3713 [Lowes]
Brazing rod	enough for two 18 inch lengths	used to make grounding mechanism	Probably have in shop
Lamp chain pull balls	at least 4	ends for static discharge lines and tubing	Probably have in shop
Lamp Finials	4	Put at the ends of the tubing	Probably have in shop
Pipe hangers	2 of them	AMERICAN VALVE 5-Pack .5-in dia. x 6-ft L Copper-Plated malleable Iron Wire Tubing Hook	Item #: 301317 Model #: AV301317 [Lowes]
Rubber feet	6 of them	For base bottom	Probably have in shop
Washers	Several		Probably have in shop
O-ring belts	2 betls or enough to make 2 belts	Length depends on pulley distance and size	High-Performance Urethane Round Belting, 1/8 inch Diameter, 10 ft Length, Clear [Amazon]
Nuts	2		Probably have in shop
Wood screws	several	depends on other materials used	Probably have in shop
Drywall screws	several	depends on other materials used	Probably have in shop

Weekend Three Tasks

Build a Leyden jar, complete team poster, levitate the triangle, construct the PET bottle motor experiment.

Week Four Results

Started materials lists and information for 3 experiments. These lists can be found in the materials section.

Decision List

Material List

See table under week three

All items still need to be acquired for the project. A cost estimate is unknown.

1) Wimshurst PET Bottle Motor experiment ($10)

    * PET bottle x 3
    * Aluminum foil tape
    * Metal rod, so the PET bottle can spin
    * A piece of wood, for the base
    * Chains x 2

2) Dancing Balls experiment ($8)

    * Aluminum plate x 2
    * A small acrylic chamber similar to any of these
    * Styrofoam
    * Aluminum foil
    * Wood, for the base

3) Triangle Lifter experiment ($3)

    * Aluminum foil
    * Large toothpick x 3

Software List

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) 2.8

Time

38 Hours

Tutorials

PET Bottle Static Motor

Next Steps

Materials: Items on the materials list still need to be acquired. The main list is solely for the planned whimhurst machine.

Experiment Set Up: Several other experiments have been proposed and materials lists put together. These items need to be acquired and set up for demonstration

Demonstration Decision: A survey has been created and still needs to be distributed and the results analyzed via statistical analysis. Professor Forester would be the ideal place to start on this part of the project.

Machine Construction: Materials list has already been created. The team would need to take gathered materials and being machine construction.