Robert J. Van de Graaff

Robert J. Van de Graaff was an American physicist known for inventing the Van de Graaff generator in the 1930s. This device uses electrostatics to produce high-voltage electricity by transferring electric charge to a metal sphere. It works by moving a belt made of insulating material, which picks up electrons and carries them to the sphere, causing it to accumulate a positive or negative charge. The high voltage generated can create electric fields strong enough for various experiments, including those in particle physics and nuclear research, making it a vital tool in advancing our understanding of atomic structures and fundamental forces.