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An electroscope is an early scientific instrument that is used to detect the presence and magnitude of electric charge on a body. It was the first electrical measuring instrument. The first electroscope, a pivoted needle called the versorium, was invented by British physician William Gilbert around 1600.[1] The pith-ball electroscope and the gold-leaf electroscope are two classical types of electroscope that are still used in physics education to demonstrate the principles of electrostatics. A type of electroscope is also used in the quartz fiber radiation dosimeter.

Electroscopes detect electric charge by the motion of a test object due to the Coulomb electrostatic force. The electric potential or voltage of an object equals its charge divided by its capacitance, so electroscopes can be regarded as crude voltmeters. The accumulation of enough charge to detect with an electroscope requires hundreds or thousands of volts, so electroscopes are only used with high voltage sources such as static electricity and electrostatic machines. Electroscopes generally give only a rough, qualitative indication of the magnitude of the charge; an instrument that measures charge quantitatively is called an electrometer.

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How do you measure charge of a charged body with a Gold Leaf Electroscope?

To measure the charge of a charged body with a Gold Leaf Electroscope, you bring the charged body close to the electroscope's metal knob. The charge on the body induces a charge in the electroscope, causing the gold leaves to diverge. By observing the extent of divergence, one can estimate the magnitude of the charge on the body.


What do you need for a homemade electroscope?

You can find instructions for making an electroscope in several books. The novel "Pulling Through" by Dean Ing contains an appendix that tells you how to make an electroscope (identical to the one the characters in his story used to measure radioactivity levels from nuclear fallout). I built one of these but found it very tricky (it is very difficult to avoid contamination that allows charge to leak from the plates and this will be true of any homemade electroscope).


What are the types of electroscopes?

The different types of electroscopes are - i. Pith ball electroscope ii.Gold leaf electroscope iii. Needle electroscope


How can you tell that an electroscope is charged?

You can tell that an electroscope is charged by observing the divergence of the leaves. If the leaves spread apart after bringing a charged object close to the electroscope, it indicates that the electroscope has acquired a charge.


What are the different ways to charge an electroscope?

An electroscope can be charged by conduction, where it is touched by a charged object transferring charge to the electroscope, or by induction, where a charged object is brought close to the electroscope causing charge separation within it. Additionally, an electroscope can also be charged by friction, where two objects are rubbed together transferring charge to the electroscope.


Which instrument can measure static electricity having a potential difference as low as 0.1 volts?

An electroscope can be used to measure static electricity with a potential difference as low as 0.1 volts. It can detect small charges by showing the presence of electric fields through the movement of a metal leaf or needle.


How would you ue an electroscope tofindout whether an object is charged or no?

To use an electroscope to determine if an object is charged, first discharge the electroscope by grounding it. Next, bring the object close to the electroscope without touching it. If the leaves of the electroscope diverge, it indicates that the object is charged.


What can an electroscope determine?

An electroscope can determine the presence of electric charges. When a charged object is brought close to the electroscope, it causes the leaves of the electroscope to either repel or attract each other, indicating the presence and type of charge.


How the golden leaf electroscope can be charged postively by induction?

The golden leaf electroscope can be charged positively by induction by first bringing a positively charged object close to the electroscope. The positive charges on the object attract the negative charges in the electroscope, causing the positive charges in the electroscope to be repelled to the leaves, thus giving the electroscope a positive charge.


When you charge an electroscope by touching it with a charged balloon the process is called?

The process is called "charging by conduction." When you touch a charged balloon to the electroscope, electrons transfer from the balloon to the electroscope, causing the electroscope to become charged.


How can an electroscope be used to determine what charge a body has?

To determine the charge of a body using an electroscope, place the body near the electroscope's metal cap. If the electroscope's leaves repel each other, the body has the same charge as the electroscope. If the leaves collapse, the body has the opposite charge.


What happens when we touch a charged electroscope with our fingers?

When we touch a charged electroscope with our fingers, the excess charge on the electroscope is neutralized by our body, causing the electroscope to discharge and lose its charge. As a result, the leaves of the electroscope will collapse back together.