Static Electricity: Gold Leaf Electroscope

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The gold leaf electroscope is used to study electric charge

Components of a Gold Leaf Electroscope:

A metal cap, that is attached to

A metal rod, which passes through

An insulating plug, into

An earthed container with a glass front

A gold leaf that is attached near the base of the metal rod

There are 4 uses of a Gold Leaf Electroscope:

1. Detect small charges:

The leaf diverges when a charged body is brought close to the cap of the electroscope

2. Estimate the size of a charge:

By measuring the extent to which the leaf diverges

3. Identify whether a charge is positive or negative:

Charge the electroscope by induction both positively and negatively, and observe whether the divergence of the leaf increases or decreases in both cases

4. Distinguish between an insulator and a conductor:

Charge the electroscope and touch the cap with the object

If the leaf collapses the object is a conductor

If the leaf does not collapse then the object is an insulator

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