Electrostatic Compass
Purpose
Demonstrates that two types of electric charge exist and that like charges repel while opposite charges attract. The suspended rod with known positive (glass) and negative (Teflon) reference charges acts as a compass to identify the charge polarity of unknown objects.
Figure 1:
Electrostatic compass: a balanced rod with Teflon and glass ends suspended from a stand, with charging materials (felt, silk, balloon) on the table.
Demo Apparatus
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