Question

Describe an experiment to demonstrate that there are two kinds of charges.

Answer 1

Aim: To show that there are two kinds of charges.

Apparatus: gold leaf electroscope, glass rod rubbed with the silk cloth, any two non-identical bodies say A and B.

Procedure:
(i) Charge the gold leaf electroscope positively by touching it with the glass rod rubbed with a silk cloth.
(ii) The gold leaf electroscope shows its charging by showing its leaves diverging.
(iii) Touch the brass cap of this electroscope with body A and note the divergence of the gold leaves.
(iv) Now touch the brass cap with body B and note the divergence.

Observation:

• In case of body A—Leaves further diverge.
• In case of body B — leaves converge.

Inference:

Body A (positively charged)
Body B (negatively charged)
So there are two types of charges.