Sunday 22 August 2010

Faraday's Cage

MIT Physics Demo

In the electric field of a Van de Graaff generator, an unprotected Ben Franklin feels electrostatic forces. However, when a metal cage surrounds him, he is completely shielded against any electricity or electrostatic force. This is due to the fact that all charges in a conductor reside on the outer surface, and always rearrange themselves to cancel out the electric field in the interior.