[Virginia Tech Department of Physics]

 Lecture Demonstrations
Electricity & Magnetism
   

E01: Electrostatic Interactions

 

Purpose: To show the basic interactions of charged objects such as attraction and replusion. Also show how a simple electroscope can be use to measure electric charge.

Description: Rub the plastic rod with fur to charge the rod negatively. Rub the glass rod with silk to charge the rod positively.

 

Show that nuetral objects are attracted to a charged rod. Small bits of paper work well for this.

Place a charged rod in the cradle and show that like rods repel and different rods attract.

Use the rods to charge the Styrofoam balls and show their attraction and repulsion.

Use the rods to charge the electroscope to demonstrate a method for measuring electric charge. The projection electroscope can be placed on the Cannon Document camera for easy class viewing.

Equipment List: Storage Location: Hahn N 130A

 

 Rubber rods and fur, glass rods and silk, other materials for producing charge by rubbing are also available. A cradle to hold the charged rods. C2.3
  Styrofoam balls coated with conductive paint hanging from a stand C2.3
  Projection electroscope C2.2

References:

Manual: None   Setup Notes: E01 PIRA #:
Manufacturer(s): VT Other school's Demonstration web pages

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