How to Make a Glass Jar Electroscope
A leaf electroscope is a sensitive instrument used for the accurate measurement of very small electric charges. Two leaves of extremely thin electrically conductive material are hung so they are almost in contact with one another. The leaves are connected together electrically so when they are charged they repel each other. The angle formed when the two leaves push apart from one another is proportional to the amount of electrical charge on the leaves.
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Instructions
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Directions
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Aluminum foil is electrically conductive, so it can be used to determine charge in a leaf electroscope. Cut two identical strips of aluminum foil. The leaves of foil should be one centimeter wide by five centimeters long.
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Open the paperclip so only the innermost, smallest bend remains. The paperclip should now resemble a long rod with a hook at the end.
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3
Push the paperclip through the center of the index card and tape it so it remains at a right angle to the card. Part of the paperclip rod should be on one side of the index card and the hook should be on the other.
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4
Lay one of the foil leaves directly on top of the other so no edges stick out, then push the paperclip hook through the leaves about one-half centimeter away from one end.
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Lay the card over the jar so the hooks and the leaves of aluminum hang inside the jar and the rod side of the paperclip sticks up out of the jar.
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Bring charged objects near the rod side of the paperclip and see what happens.
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Tips & Warnings
If the strips do not fall back together gently, touch the paperclip pole with your finger to release the charge.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit lightning4 image by Iryna Petrenko from Fotolia.com aluminum foil image by Andrey Zyk from Fotolia.com
