If you were to walk toward a Van der Graaf generator, the effect of its electrical field would get weaker as you got to it. True or False?
I say False.
Correct, very false
You're correct, the statement is False. When you walk towards a Van der Graaf generator, the effect of its electrical field would actually get stronger, not weaker.
To understand why this is the case, let's briefly explain how a Van der Graaf generator works. Its purpose is to generate static electricity, typically by using a rubber belt to transfer charge from a high-voltage source to a large metal sphere or dome. This creates a build-up of static electricity on the surface of the sphere.
As you walk towards the Van der Graaf generator, you are essentially moving closer to the source of the static electricity. In this process, the electric field strength increases because the field strength of an electric charge decreases with distance.
According to Coulomb's Law, the magnitude of the electric field is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the charge. So, as you get closer to the Van der Graaf generator, the distance between you and the charges on the metal sphere decreases, resulting in a stronger electric field.
In conclusion, if you were to walk towards a Van der Graaf generator, the effect of its electrical field would indeed get stronger, not weaker.