Gold-Leaf Electroscope Flashcards
What can you use a gold-leaf electroscope to see?
Whether a material is charged
How is a gold-leaf electroscope set up?
It has a metal disc connected to a metal rod, with two thing pieces of gold leaf attached at the bottom
What happens when a rod with a charge is brought near to the disc of the electroscope?
Electrons will either be attracted to, or repelled from, the metal disc - depending on charge of rod
What does this do to the metal disc?
Induces a charge in it, which induces a charge in the gold leaves
Why will the gold leaves repel each other?
They will have the same charge, causing them to rise
What happens when the rod is taken away?
The gold leaves will discharge and fall again
What can we say if the foil doesn’t rise when the rod is brought near the disc?
The rod is not charged
