Quantitative Experiments in Electrostatics for the Elementary Laboratory

Abstract

Electrostatic experiments can be performed successfully even in humid climates if precautions against surface moisture are taken. A generator capable of delivering charge at a fixed, reproducible potential is described. A commercial electrometer is used as a high-impedance voltmeter to permit various experiments involving static charges on capacitors. The electrometer permits the construction of a simple probe for exploring both the magnitude and the direction of an electric field. The transition to circuit electricity is made by experiments employing capacitor discharge.