SimulationClass 8, 12 · Physics · electric chargeFree
Gold Leaf Electroscope
A gold leaf electroscope is a simple tool that checks if an object has an electrical charge. The wider the two gold leaves spread apart, the stronger the charge. Touch a charged rod to the metal cap. The charge travels down to the leaves — and since both leaves now have the same charge, they push away from each other. Earth the cap, and the leaves drop straight back down.
Drag the rod onto the cap to charge it — or press Touch capSame sign again = widerOpposite sign = leaves fallEarth the cap drains the charge away
Charge on the rod
Readings
Charge
0.0 nC
On the leaves
0.0 nC
Leaves spread
0°
Sign
none
State
neutral
The rod & display
A neutral conductor still shares charge, so touching with the Neutral rod bleeds a little charge away instead of adding any.
What just happened
The electroscope starts with no extra charge, so the leaves hang together. Touch the cap with a charged rod to begin.
A plain electroscope tells you charge is present and roughly how much — but not its sign. Both leaves repel whether the charge is + or −.
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