Creating Your Own Homemade Electroscope

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SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on creating a homemade electroscope capable of providing measurements. Users suggest utilizing a video camera for digital measurements or placing a graduated scale behind the leaves for visual measurements. To convert the measurements into volts or kilovolts, it is essential to conduct calibration tests by applying known voltages and plotting a calibration curve that correlates displacement to voltage. This method ensures accurate readings from the homemade device.

PREREQUISITES
  • Basic understanding of electroscopes and their function
  • Familiarity with measurement techniques and calibration methods
  • Knowledge of voltage units (volts, kilovolts)
  • Experience with using video cameras for measurement purposes
NEXT STEPS
  • Research calibration techniques for analog instruments
  • Learn about using video analysis software for measuring displacement
  • Explore methods for constructing a homemade electroscope
  • Investigate the principles of electrostatics and charge measurement
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for hobbyists, educators, and students interested in physics experiments, particularly those focusing on electrostatics and measurement techniques.

TheQuietOne
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I want to make a electroscope but tried googling it and none made my criteria. What I want is a homemade electroscope that will give me a measurement, please tell what I would need and possibly a how to. Thank you
 
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Do you mean a digital measurement? You could use a video camera to measure the separation of the leaves and use that as a measurement.

Do you mean a visual measurement? You could put a graduated scale (i.e. a ruler) behind the leafs) then view them from the side and see which gradations are hidden by the leaves.
 
OK but how do I convert that measurement into volts/ kilovolts?
 
Just like any analog instrument, you must run calibration tests. First apply a series of known voltages, and observe the displacement. Use that to plot a calibration curve that relates displacement to voltage.
 
Thank you, as you might have figured, I'm not very knowledgeableabout tthis stuff.
Sorry about the mumbo jumbo my phone is acting weird
 

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