This large gold leaf electroscope features superior construction quality, and consists of a high quality black plastic box with glass windows to shut out air currents. A plated metal support rod enters from the top through a polyethylene insulator. A single piece of gold leaf hangs from the support rod. This device is supplied complete with an interchangeable sphere or flat top terminal conductor (see alternate photos). This electroscope is very high quality, and offers the highest level of sensitivity.
Features
The device consists of a metal plate or disc at the top, which is connected to a metal rod inside a glass-walled chamber. At the bottom of the rod, there are two thin pieces of foil, often gold leaf. When a charged object touches the metal disc, the charge is transferred down the rod to the gold leaves. Because the leaves acquire the same charge, they repel each other due to the Coulomb force, causing them to separate. The degree of separation indicates the amount of charge.