PURPOSE: To model some properties of the force and the potential on a charge placed in an electric field.
DESCRIPTION: Foam peanuts are tied with string and taped between two flat conducting plates. The Wimshurst machine is used to charge the plates. The foam peanuts will rise up toward the upper plate and levitate in place, restrained by the strings as seen on the photo at left.
EQUIPMENT: The flat plates, peanuts and Wimshurst are stored in the electricity and magnetism cabinets.
SETUP TIME: 1/2 hour.
Updated by Jun Qi in 3/9/2000