Van de Graaff

Scientific  

/ văn′dəgrăf′ /

1. American physicist who in 1929 invented an improved electrostatic generator (later called the Van de Graaff generator) that was adapted for use as a particle accelerator. The generator became an important research tool for atomic physicists and was also used to produce high-energy x-rays helpful in treating cancer.

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Example Sentences

The contraption was a huge Van de Graaff generator of the sort you can see throwing off sparks and raising hair at science museums.

From Washington Post

Juliet did try to Van de Graaff generator, which is a silver sphere that generates static electricity.

From Washington Times

In the display, the scale model of the 65-foot Van de Graaff generator looks as it did when it began operations in 1937.

From Washington Times

There he was immersed in an effort to produce high-energy protons to probe the atomic nucleus, using his balky Tesla coils and Van de Graaff generators.

From Literature

Rabkin rattled off a few in particular including their Van de Graaff generator, which incidentally is vividly seared into this Boston-raised science writer’s childhood memories.

From Scientific American