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  1. Home
  2. Physics Demonstrations and Equipment
  3. Electricity and Magnetism
  4. Electrostatics
  5. Producing Static Charge

Producing Static Charge Concept

Demonstrations in Producing Static Charge

Needle electroscope with metal sphere and pointer inside a circular ring, flanked by a clear rod on yellow silk cloth (left) and a white rod on black felt cloth (right)

Charging Rods

Students observe that rubbing different materials together separates charge, producing positive or negative static electricity detectable with an electroscope. Demonstrates the triboelectric series and conservation of charge.
Auxiliary Lucite plate on plastic standoffs (left) and electrophorus with dark metal plate, insulating handle, on brass-rimmed wooden base (right)

Electrophorus

Demonstrates charging by induction using a negatively charged Lucite plate and a grounded metal plate. The metal plate can be repeatedly charged positive without depleting the insulator's charge, making the …

Physics Undergraduate Laboratories
Department of Physics
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University of Colorado
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