A Simple Portable Handheld Van de Graaff Generator for Demonstrating Static Electricity

One device that is commonly used to demonstrate electrostatic phenomena is the Van de Graaff generator. However, this device is found to be expensive, relatively large, hard to move, and not available in many school laboratories. This paper aims to describe the experiment of creating a simple portable handheld Van de Graaff generator produced by employing second and easily available materials in the local market. This device collects charges from two materials that rub against each other. The combination of chosen materials listed in the triboelectric series determines the type of charge on the generator. This research used the experimental method by continuously testing the prototype to find the best result using the following steps: start, theory, design, material selection and assembly, testing, completion, and finish. A charge conduction experiment and a charge type test through a simple Coulomb experiment or an electrostatic polarity detector successfully tested the final product. The results showed that the device could effectively demonstrate basic electrostatic phenomena, making it a practical and affordable alternative for classroom demonstration.