Gold Leaf Electroscope(tell about it)
Answers
In this picture we will learn about gold leaf Elecroscope
DESCRIPTION: The gold leaf electroscope is a very simple device that consists of a glass jar within which two gold foils hang from a metallic brass rod, the brass rod comes out from the mouth of the glass jar and is widened to form a brass plate. The glass jar is corked shut to prevent disturbances to the gold foils.
USE: It is used to detect the presence of charges on a particular body.
PRINCIPLE: Initially, both the gold foils are neutral and have no charge on them and show no repulsion, but when a charged body, positively or negatively charged is brought in contact with it, flow of electrons takes place from the object into the gold foils through the brass rod if the object is negatively charged or flow of electrons from the gold foils into the object takes place if the object is positively charged.
In short the gold leaves gain a similar charge on them, as like charges repel, repulsion is now observed between both the gold leaves, this indicates that the object is a charged body. If the object was neutral, no such repulsion would be observed in the gold leaves.
Also, the glass jar should have vacuum in it and a metal plate with an earth connection should be present to ensure that the charges are conducted from the gold leaves into the earth after the experiment is completed.
