Question

With a help of neat diagram explain gold leaf electroscope.​

Answer 1

Explanation:

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.