Laboratory No.
ELECTROSCOPE
Name: _________________________________________ Date Performed: __________________
Year and Section: ________________________________ Date Submitted: __________________
Introduction:
An electroscope is a scientific device that is used to detect the presence of an
electric charge on a body. In the year 1600, British physician William Gilbert invented
the first electroscope with a pivoted needle called versorium.
Electroscope detects the charge based on the Coulomb electrostatic force which
causes the motion of test charge. Electroscope can be regarded as a crude voltmeter as
the electric charge of an object is equal to its capacitance. An instrument that is used to
measure the charge quantitatively is known as an electrometer.
A simple electroscope is made of two metal leaves suspended from a metal rod
and placed at the center of a clear glass or plastic jar. The rod’s end outside the jar is
spiraled.
Objectives:
At the end of the experiment, the students will be able to:
1. explain the concept of determining charge using electroscope;
2. create an electroscope using indigenous materials; and
3. relate experimental activities to observe phenomena.
Materials:
glass jar (wide opening)
solid copper wire (the thicker, the better)
hard plastic (cover of the glass jar/ plastic cover)
wire stripper
aluminum foil
plastic tube
electrical tape
balloon
Figure:
Procedure/s:
1. Strip the sheath of the copper wire.
2. Bend the copper wire at a right angle and roll in a spiral shape.
3. Using a hard-plastic material, make lid with the same area as the opening of.
the jar.
4. Cut a hole at the center of the lid.
5. Insert the plastic tube and make sure that it is securely fastened to the lid.
6. Insert the copper wire through the tube and make a small hook at the end of
the wire.
7. Using the aluminum foil cut out two small pear shape by the size of your
thumb and pierce a hole at their ends.
8. Hang the two aluminum foils at the hook.
9. Put the lid into the jar. Secure it by using an electrical tape.
Part 1: Charging by Rubbing and Induction
1. Rub the balloon on your hair.
2. Place the balloon next to the copper coils. Observe what happens to the
metal
inside the jar.
3. Move the material away and touch your hand to the coiled wire. Observe what
happens.
4. Repeat step 8-10 with 3 other materials; PVC/ plastic covers, dry hand and
fur/
wool/ silk. Record your observation and complete the given table below.
Data/ Results:
Material/s rubbed on hair Observation
a. balloon
b. PVC/ plastic cover
c. dry hand
d. fur/ wool/ silk
Part 2: Charging by Conduction
1. Bring a positively charged object to the terminal (spiraled wire) and see the
leaves diverge (draw apart from each other).
2. Touch the terminal with the charged end of the object, note that the leaves
remain diverged.
3. Remove the object and observe that the leaves still remain diverged.
4. Discharge the electroscope by touching it with your finger.
5. Repeat the steps above, this time using a negatively charged object. Note that
the leaves behave in the same way as before and remain diverged. Write your
observations below.
Observation/s:
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Questions:
1. Explain why the aluminum foils diverged when the positively charged object was
brought near the terminal of the electroscope.
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2. Describe how charging by conduction works. Be sure to explain why the leaves
remain diverged after the terminal is touched in Part 2: Charging by Conduction.
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3. Compare and contrast the processes of electrostatic induction and conduction.
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4. There are two identical metal spheres. One metal sphere (A) is electrically neutral
and the other sphere (B) is positively charged. The spheres are brought contact into
each other. As a result, the first metal sphere (A) becomes positively charged. Which of
the following occurred in the process? Encircle all the letters that apply or highlight (in
yellow) all the letters that apply.
a. The uncharged metal sphere gain some protons.
b. Electrons are transferred from the uncharged sphere to the charged sphere.
c. The neutral metal sphere loses electrons.
d. The positively charged sphere gained electrons.
e. The overall charge of the system is conserved.
f. Protons are transferred from the positively charged sphere to the uncharged sphere.
g. Positive electrons are moved between the two objects.
h. This event violated the law of conservation of charges.