Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"
If you have a question about your science fair project, you are in the right place!
Wooden
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Wooden
by Sophie99 » Thu Mar 22, 2012 10:37 pm
In my science project: Where There Is Charge, There Can Be Sparks, I was wondering why I needed a wooden table.
- Sophie99
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sat Mar 10, 2012 11:39 pm
- Occupation: Student 7th grade
- Project Question: Where there is charge, there can be sparks.
- Project Due Date: April 1, 2012
- Project Status: I am finished with my experiment and analyzing the data
Re: Wooden
by theborg » Fri Mar 23, 2012 12:37 am
Sophie99,
Good question. This experiment is all about controlling the flow of electrons. Wood is an insulator. Meaning it will not easily conduct an electrical charge. Some other common insulators are glass, rubber, air and plastic. However, wood is the best at not building up a static charge on the surface like glass or plastic and you need one other requirement, a sturdy platform to work on. The wood table provides all 3 requirements: a stable platform to rub the acrylic sheet, it will not conduct electrons away from your acrylic sheet as you are attempting to build up a static charge and it will not build up a static charge on its surface as well as you are rubbing the acrylic sheet with wool.
For the results of your Leyden jar measurements to mean anything, you need to take care not to inadvertently discharge the electrophorus or have a source that could randomly introduce additional charge to your system. Wood is an ideal material to work on that will electrically insulate your experiment.
For a discussion on conductors and insulators visit: http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResource ... lators.htm
Hope this answers your question,
theborg
Good question. This experiment is all about controlling the flow of electrons. Wood is an insulator. Meaning it will not easily conduct an electrical charge. Some other common insulators are glass, rubber, air and plastic. However, wood is the best at not building up a static charge on the surface like glass or plastic and you need one other requirement, a sturdy platform to work on. The wood table provides all 3 requirements: a stable platform to rub the acrylic sheet, it will not conduct electrons away from your acrylic sheet as you are attempting to build up a static charge and it will not build up a static charge on its surface as well as you are rubbing the acrylic sheet with wool.
For the results of your Leyden jar measurements to mean anything, you need to take care not to inadvertently discharge the electrophorus or have a source that could randomly introduce additional charge to your system. Wood is an ideal material to work on that will electrically insulate your experiment.
For a discussion on conductors and insulators visit: http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResource ... lators.htm
Hope this answers your question,
theborg
I hope this helps.
theborg
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“Education never ends. It is a series of lessons, with the greatest for the last.”
~ Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes)
theborg
----------
“Education never ends. It is a series of lessons, with the greatest for the last.”
~ Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes)
- theborg
- Expert
- Posts: 175
- Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2011 12:26 pm
- Occupation: US Air Force Space & Missile Operations
- Project Question: "To explain all nature is too difficult a task for any one man. 'Tis much better to do a little with certainty and leave the rest for others that come after you, than to explain all things by conjecture without making sure of anything." - Sir Isaac Newton
- Project Due Date: N/A
- Project Status: Not applicable
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