A drawing pin is fixed to the dome of a van de graaff machine with its point in the air.

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A drawing pin is fixed to the dome of a van de graaff machine with its point in the air.

[From: ] [author: ] [Date: 11-05-02] [Hit: ]

This field will ionise the surrounding air. ( usually by donating electrons to the air molecules ) . The ionised air will be repelled by the charging machine, and carry away the charges. To be replaced by more air which also gets ionised and ........

Explain why this stops the dome charging up when the machine is switched on?

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The point of the pin, with a tiny radius of curvature ( meaning, it is sharp ) produces an intense electric field. This field will ionise the surrounding air. ( usually by donating electrons to the air molecules ) . The ionised air will be repelled by the charging machine, and carry away the charges. To be replaced by more air which also gets ionised and ... so the dome loses charge as fast as it arrives.
The dome undergoes continuous discharge through the point of the pin. This is why Van de graaff domes are kept as smooth as possible.

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