How do you built a simple elecroscope for detecting static electricity?

Question

I need some kind of report to go with it (or website you found it at)

Answer 1

I learned how to do this about fifty years ago. You need a jar with a narrow mouth, a cork to plug the mouth, a five or six inch length of 10 gauge solid copper wire, and a very thin strip of aluminum foil. You push the wire through the cork and make a little “L” hook on the end inside the jar. Leave about an inch of wire protruding from the top of the cork. Cut the foil to be about a quarter inch wide and three or four inches long. Carefully fold it in half length-wise and set it on the short arm of the “L”. Use a very small drop of glue to hold it in place. Make sure the glue does not cover all of the foil where it is in contact with the copper. You need at least some of the foil to make electrical contact with the wire. Now carefully lower the foil into the jar and lightly tamp the cork in place. Voila! You have an electroscope.

The difficult part of this project is finding foil that is thin enough to be flexible and work well with small static charges. Fifty years ago I just cut a paper dielectric capacitor apart and peeled off some of the foil inside. Most non-polarized capacitors today have a plastic film insulator coated with a metal layer too thin to work with. You might try it though, keeping the plastic film intact. The foil on a stick of gum wrapper used to work pretty good too if you separate it from the paper by dissolving the paper in water for a day or so. Another possibility is the foil inside a pack of cigarettes with the same problem of removing the paper from the foil.

The electroscope will hold a charge longer if you can find some way to increase its capacitance. Fifty years ago I just soldered a penny to the end of the copper wire sticking out of the cork. They don’t make a penny out of pure copper anymore, so you may have to find something else that you can solder to.

Good luck! This was a really fun project and a neat way to learn at home about the principles of electrostatic induction. Try rubbing various objects like a glass rod on silk or a rubber pocket comb on fur (a cat works nicely) to create static charges you can explore with your electroscope.

Answer 2

Many folks ask approximately shocks skilled after they contact the door, submitting cupboard, elevate, or different steel item. Static electrical power is generated at any time when 2 elements are in touch with each and every different. All elements are made from electric expenditures within the fabric atoms. In the universe there are identical quantities of bad electric cost (electrons) and confident cost (protons). These typically attempt to keep in steadiness of identical quantities at each position. However, while 2 elements are in touch, one of the most expenditures redistribute through relocating from one fabric to the opposite. This leaves an way over confident cost on one fabric, and an identical bad cost at the different. When the elements transfer aside, each and every takes it is cost with it. One fabric turns into charged definitely, and the opposite negatively. If the elements are capable to behavior electrical power away the expenditures will fritter away and finally recombine. In this example, static electrical power results is also too small to be spotted. However, if the expenditures are separated quicker than the fabric can fritter away them, the volume of electrostatic cost builds up. Eventually a top voltage, and the consequences of static electrical power, is also spotted. Most brand new footwear have particularly insulating rubber or plastic soles. As you stroll, static expenditures can construct up at the soles of the footwear. This is above all actual if the ground could also be insulating. Some older nylon carpets are specially well at producing static electrical power. The cost at the footwear soles induces static electric cost to your frame, and this cost looks as a top voltage. Under extreme stipulations, greater than 15,000 Volts had been recorded. It is particularly average to revel in five,000V. In truth, many folks don't think a surprise from a static electrical power discharge lower than approximately two,000-four,000V. If you're interior, the factor can also be proved through going for walks round for a even as with out a footwear on - you are going to most often no longer revel in surprise. When you take a seat in a chair the touch among your garments and the chair can generate plenty of electrostatic cost to your garments. While you keep in touch with the chair your frame voltage remains low. If you lean ahead so that you again actions clear of the chair again, or if you happen to stand up out of the chair, then you are taking the electrostatic cost with you. Your frame voltage can upward thrust very swiftly to a top voltage because the cost is separated from it is counter cost at the chair. Unfortunately healing isn't continuously convenient. Indoors, you'll check out elevating the air humidity to forty-50% rh with a humidifier. (You can determine the humidity with a low priced humidity meter from a gardening store.) Also, seem for footwear with leather-based soles. In the electronics enterprise, and in places wherein electrostatic sparks would reason a fireplace threat, folks on the whole put on peculiarly designed static dissipative footwear to decrease electrostatic cost construct-up at the frame. It is much less most likely that issues shall be skilled with non-polymer flooring, corresponding to cement or wooden (even though varnishes can reason issues). However, changing the ground can also be highly-priced! It is feasible to regard a few flooring with static dissipative cures - however the advantage of this may occasionally most often put on off after a even as.

Answer 3

one piece of gold foil,a conductive rod.
fold the gold foil in half ,suspend it on the conductive rod at the center fold,if the rod is charged the gold foil will separate showing a charge but polarity is not determined.(this device is usually inside a bell jar type housing with the end of the rod outside the jar.