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

Problem Statement

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

Team Members

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Renkenberger
Waters
Holcomb
McGivern

Summary

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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

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Story

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First Weekend

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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
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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

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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

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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

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

Week Four Results

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

Decision List

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Material List

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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

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GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) 2.8

Time

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38 Hours

Tutorials

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PET Bottle Static Motor

Next Steps

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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.