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Question

Describe with the help of a diagram an instrument which can be used to detect a charged body.
[5 marks]
[NCERT, APSCERT]
[Electroscope]

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Solution

Solution:
An electroscope can be used to detect the charge on a body. It consists of a metal disc on the top, which is attached to a pair of gold or aluminium leaves hanging from the bottom of a conducting rod (usually made of brass). ​When uncharged, the metal leaves loosely project downwards.​
[1 mark]


[2 marks]

When a negatively charged body is brought in contact with the metal disc, electrons flow from it to the leaves via the conducting brass rod. Both the leaves acquire negative charge and repel each other. As a result, the leaves diverge.​
[1 mark]

Similarly, when a positively charged body is brought in contact with the metal disc, electrons flow from the leaves to the body and the leaves acquire a positive charge due to the deficit of electrons. Again, there is a repulsion between the leaves and they diverge.​
[1 mark]

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