Electrostatic Machine (Noun)
Meaning
Electrical device that produces a high voltage by building up a charge of static electricity.
Classification
Nouns denoting man-made objects.
Examples
- The electrostatic machine used in the lab was a precursor to modern particle accelerators and played a crucial role in the discovery of subatomic particles.
- The inventor spent several years refining his electrostatic machine design, eventually increasing its voltage output by a factor of ten.
- A typical electrostatic machine consists of a rotating glass or sulfur sphere and a handful of metal terminals, all carefully shielded to prevent electrical discharge.
- The museum exhibit featured an ancient electrostatic machine, built in the late 18th century and still capable of producing a moderate voltage when powered by a hand crank.
- In its most basic form, an electrostatic machine is just a series of insulators and conductors that interact to build up an electric charge, much like a balloon rubbed against hair.