5B10.25 • Electric Field: Confetti (Puffed Wheat)

Location: Cabinet 1

Photo Shows Apparatus Used at the University of Texas at Austin.

Instructions / Notes:

• Set a plexiglass ring that is a 1/4 to 1/2 full of puffed wheat on top of the Van de Graaf generator.
• When you switch on the Van der Graaff, the puffed wheat fly out of the styrofoam ring.
• Use the provided discharge sphere to ground the top dome of Van de Graaff when turning off the power.

Demo Staff:

• Test the Van de Graaff in the back room, BEFORE putting any puffed wheat into the top cup.
• Also, the Van de Graaff always needs a discharge sphere attached to the plug shown below.

Last updated on June 5, 2026