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 Gold Leaf (or Foil)
ElectroscopeOrigin and Date unknown This electroscope has two pieces of gold leaf (a very thin foil) suspended inside a glass jar. The brass ball on top, and the brass rod going from it to the foil, carries electricity to the foils, which become equally-charged. Since like charges repel, the two foils will become separated. These electroscopes are fairly sensitive (you can rub a plastic comb with your handkerchief, and the electroscope can detect the charge created). Since the gold leaf is inside a glass jar, it is protected from stray breezes - and also protected from human touch. This is important, since gold leaf is extremely thin and delicate. Since the foil in this electroscope has been crumpled, it might be hard to imagine it in operation. Below is an illustration taken from an undated early-nineteenth-century tinted engraving in our collection.
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| The Bakken A Library and Museum of Electricity in Life 3537 Zenith Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55416-4623, USA Join our E-Mail List Contact Us Tele: 612-926-3878 Fax: 612-927-7265 |
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