Van De Graff

In class we saw many different demonstrations with the Van De Graff. A Van De Graff builds up negative charge around it by collecting electrons from the rubber band and expelling them into the dome. We saw what happened when different objects/substances were placed near the negatively charged dome. When we blew bubbles towards the Van De Graff, they first were attracted to it, then once they got close enough repealed the other way. This is because there was an imbalance of charges. When we formed a human chain, at first there were to many people so no one got shocked, but when we used less people they got shocked. This is because anything that touched the dome also had a negative charge.When you touch them you get shocked because our bodies want to get back to their natural, neutral state. When the paper stripes were tapped to the Van De Graff they stuck strait out, like hair, because of an imbalance of charge. When we put the metal wand up to the pieces of paper they fell back down because metal is a good conductor and took all of the negative charge. When we put cheerios on top of the dome, they flew off because the Van De Graff gave them a negative charge and they repealed. I still have some questions about static electricity and atoms. would the Van De Graff work if it had a positive charge? What is being released in to the air from an atomic bomb, or broken atom? What are protons, electrons, and neutrons and how do they have so much power, like in the Van De Graff?