Final answer:
No, the belt of a Van de Graaff accelerator should be an insulator, not a conductor, as it is designed to facilitate charge transfer by preventing quick charge equalization, which would not be possible with a conducting material.
Step-by-step explanation:
The belt of a Van de Graaff accelerator should not be a conductor; instead, it is typically made of an insulating material. The purpose of the belt in the Van de Graaff accelerator is to transfer charge, which is facilitated by its insulating properties. Electrons are "sprayed" from the tips of a lower comb onto the moving belt, which then carries the charge to the upper part of the generator where it is collected by a conductor.Charge transfer occurs as charge does not stay inside the conducting sphere but moves to its outer surface. This mechanism is similar to how rubbing your shoes on a carpet can transfer charge to your body, resulting in a shock when touching a doorknob. Using an insulating belt is crucial because a conducting belt would not support the build-up and transfer of static electricity as it would allow charges to equalize quickly.