Is my Leyden jar experiment properly designed?

[miraiw]

I'm attempting to make a Leyden jar by taking a plastic cup, covering the inside with aluminium foil, and then filling the cup with salt water. I have a spring sticking through the centre that conducts through the inner foil.

Judging from the Wikipedia article on Leyden jars I can use my hand instead of the outer foil, but how do I charge it? I clamped the positive terminal of a 9V to the spring and held the outside of the cup, but I can't tell that any charge is being stored in the foil. Should I hold the negative terminal too or what?

I can provide a picture on request.

 

[cragar]

Why don't you go foil cup foil and then hook up both terminals . Could we see a picture of your setup please.

 

[miraiw]

http://imagebin.org/139123
So I should put foil on the outside? I can see how that would work better, but it should work with my hand.

 

[cragar]

so your are trying to get electrons to build up on the foil, Is your E field in the right direction.

 

[miraiw]

Is your E field in the right direction.

What do you mean, exactly?

 

[jkswkw]

Please send pictures, let me know what you're doing experiments.
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[miraiw]

Thanks for the replies. It's at least working now.