Physics Lab Activity
Electrostatics - 2
The Electroscope
![[Prev]](../../../NavIcons/Prev.GIF)
![[Next]](../../../NavIcons/Next.GIF)
![[Up]](../../../NavIcons/Up.GIF)
![[Home]](../../../NavIcons/Home.GIF)
![[Help]](../../../NavIcons/Help.GIF)
Purpose:
* to observe, describe and explain the behavior of an
electroscope.
Note: You may work with one
or two partners for this activity. Discuss the explanations and
answers with your partner(s) and write one clear, accurate answer
on another sheet of paper. Be sure that all participants put
their name on this sheet.
Equipment:
|
plastic strips
|
cloth scraps
|
|
electroscope
|
|
Description:
- Set up the electroscope as directed by your instructor.
Note: It may take some adjusting of the aluminum foil vane
to get the electroscope to work correctly.
- Bring a charged strip near the top plate of the electroscope,
but not touching it. Describe the behavior of the
electroscope vane as you do this.
- Charge the electroscope by touching the top plate with your
charged strip. How can you tell that the electroscope is charged?
Why does it do that?
- If you bring the charged strip near the top plate of the
charged electroscope without touching
it, what happens? Why?
- If you bring an oppositely-charged strip near the top plate of
the charged electroscope without touching it, what
happens? Why?
- Compare the electrical behavior of the electroscope and the
two pith balls in the preceding activity.
Click here to check your answers
to the questions in this activity.
last update March 17, 2008 by JL
Stanbrough