Constructing an Electroscope

Introduction

An electroscope is a device used to detect an electrical charge. In this lab, you will construct an electroscope, and use it to observe the behaviour of charged objects.

Materials

  • Aluminum Foil
  • Plastic container with lid
  • Modelling clay
  • Wire coat hanger
  • Wire cutters
  • Scissors
  • Pencil
  • Balloon
  • Tea light candle

Procedure

  1. Use the pliers to cut the bent corner of the coat hanger, make another cut approximately 15cm from your first cut.
  2. Using the flame of the tea light candle, heat the straight end of the coat hanger. Push this hot end through the center of the plastic container lid. Place modelling clay around the point where the wire and lid meet.
  3. Cut a strip of aluminum foil 1cm x 5cm. Use the eraser of your pencil to rub out any wrinkles in the foil.
  4. Fold the foil in half, and place it over the hook on the coat hanger wire. Place lid on the container.
  5. Take one more piece of foil, roll it into a ball, and stick it on the end of the wire pointing straight up. Your electroscope is complete.
  6. Inflate the balloon, tie it off and rub the balloon on a group member’s hair. The hair must be clean, dry and oil-free.
  7. Hold the balloon near the foil ball. Observe the behaviour of the foil strip.

Instructions

Complete this lab, produce a lab report with fully developed observations and conclusions. Pass in this sheet with your lab report.

Hypothesis: ______

______

______

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Electroscope Lab
Student Name: ______
5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Components of the Report / All required elements are present and additional elements that add to the report (e.g., thoughtful comments, graphics) have been added. / All required elements are present. / One required element is missing, but additional elements that add to the report (e.g., thoughtful comments, graphics) have been added. / Several required elements are missing. / Most required elements are missing.
Question/
Purpose / The purpose of the lab or the question to be answered during the lab is clearly identified and stated. / The purpose of the lab or the question to be answered during the lab is identified, but is stated in a somewhat unclear manner. / The purpose of the lab or the question to be answered during the lab is partially identified, and is stated in a somewhat unclear manner. / The purpose of the lab or the question to be answered during the lab is erroneous or irrelevant. / The purpose of the lab or the question to be answered during the lab is not present
Procedures / Procedures are listed in clear steps. Each step is numbered and is a complete sentence. / Procedures are listed in a logical order, but steps are not numbered and/or are not in complete sentences. / Procedures are listed but are not in a logical order or are difficult to follow. / Procedures do not accurately list the steps of the experiment. / Procedures not present
Observations / Summary describes the skills learned, the information learned and some future applications to real life situations. / Summary describes the information learned and a possible application to a real life situation. / Summary describes the information learned. / Very brief summary of observations / No summary is written.
Conclusion / Conclusion includes whether the findings supported the hypothesis, possible sources of error, and what was learned from the experiment. / Conclusion includes whether the findings supported the hypothesis and what was learned from the experiment. / Conclusion includes what was learned from the experiment. / Conclusion shows little effort and reflection. / No conclusion was included in the report