Question

$\ \textless \ br /\ \textgreater \ \ \textless \ br /\ \textgreater \ \ \textless \ br /\ \textgreater \ Define \: \ : Gold-Leaf \: \: electroscope. \: . \: . \: ?​$
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Answer 1

Explanation:

A gold-leaf electroscope is a simple device which is used to identify the electric charge present in a body. Their operation is based on the principle of like sign charge repulsion. ... When the leaves, which are electrically connected, become electrically charged, they push apart from each other.

Answer 2

Gold leaf electroscope has two gold leafs suspended from a metal(usually brass) stem in a vacuumed glass jar and connected to a metal cap. The glass is grounded with the help of a metal foil to make it uncharged. It can be used to:

Detect charge: Body under test is touched with the metal cap. If the leaves diverge, the body is charged and if there is no effect on leaves, then the body is uncharged.

To identify the nature of charge: The electroscope is charged by a known body(say positively charged body) and then the body is removed. Next, the body under test is brought in contact with the metal cap. If the leaves diverge further, the body has same charge(positive) and if the leaves come closer to each other, the body has opposite charge(negative).

Identify a body as conductor or insulator: Take two electroscopes. Charge one of the electroscopes so that its leaves will diverge. Then, connect the two electroscopes by the object under test. If the leaves of other electroscope diverge, the body is a conductor and if there is no effect on the electroscopes, the body is an insulator.

Gold Leaf Electroscope :

It is a simple device to detect the presence of charge on any body.

Construction :

It consists of a metal rod which is fitted in an insulating box. Metal rod has a metal knob at its top. Two gold leaves are also attached at the bottom end of the rod.

Working :

Since electroscope is used to detect the presence of charge. So through it we can find whether a body is charged or uncharged.

Therefore the body to be detected is brought close enough to the metal knob. When a charged object touches the knob at the top of the rod, charge flows through the rod on to the leaves.

Both the gold leaves will have same charge and hence as a result they will repel and diverge.

The degree of divergence is an indicator of the amount of charge i.e., more the charge, more will be the divergence.