1 General Physics 2

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Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786; Grade Level/Section:
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LABORATORY ACTIVITY NO. 2

Electric Charge and Electric Field
The Improvised Electroscope
CALION, MICHELLE ERIN M. STEM12-K
Introduction

An electroscope is an early scientific instrument that is used to detect the presence and magnitude of
electric charge on a body. It was the first electrical measuring instrument. The first electroscope, a pivoted needle
called the versorium, was invented by British physician William Gilbert around 1600. The pith-ball electroscope and
the gold-leaf electroscope are two classical types of electroscopes that are still used to demonstrate electrostatics.

The electroscope is an instrument that detects the presence of charge on an object,

either through actual contact (conduction) or through induction. When the electroscope itself is charged, its two
conductive components (which vary from electroscope to electroscope) will acquire like charge and deflect from the
vertical position of gravitational equilibrium. Thus, a rod is proven to possess a charge when contact between the rod
and the electroscope transfers charge to the previously neutral electroscope. A charged object brought in the vicinity
of the charged electroscope will change the angle of deflection, indicating the presence of charge via induction (or
induced polarization).

Materials (most of these can be found in your homes)

 14-gauge copper wire (10-12 inches)
(For this, you may extract copper wire from your electronics which are no longer functional)
 Aluminum foil (1 inch x 5 inches)
 drinking straw
 electrical tape
 clear plastic/glass jar
 cardboard or thick paper (size of the jar’s mouth)
 scissors
 ruler
 balloon
 plastic comb
 pliers
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Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600

Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786; Grade Level/Section:
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
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Procedure
PART A. MAKING THE ELECTROSCOPE

1. Prepare the needed materials.

2. Trace the mouth of the jar onto a cardboard/illustration board. Cut the pattern using a scissor.
This will serve as the lid of the jar.
3. Punch a hole at the center of the cardboard big enough to fit the straw through.
4. Use the scissors to cut a two-inch long piece of straw.
5. Insert the straw into the hole for your lid. Glue the straw so it is securely fastened to the lid or you may use a
small amount of modelling clay to secure the straw.
6. Cut a 10-inch piece of copper wire. Twist the top 4 inches into a circle or spiral to create some surface area.
7. Insert the straight end of the wire through the straw and create a hook about 1 inch long.
8. Hang two small pieces of aluminum foil on the hook. Make sure they are in contact.
9. Place the hooked end of the metal into the jar and tape the lid to the jar. Make sure that the aluminum foils are
not touching the bottom part of the jar.
10. Test the electroscope.

PART B. TESTING THE ELECTROSCOPE

1. Rub a balloon against your hair to give it a strong negative charge. Touch the balloon to the twisted wire on
top of your Electroscope. ***Make sure you do not touch the balloon or any other object you’re testing to
anything before you touch it to the electroscope.*** Record what you see in the chart.
2. Discharge the electroscope by touching the twisted wire with your finger for a little while.
3. Rub a plastic pen on a piece of silk to get a strong positive charge. Touch the pen to the twisted wire on top of
your electroscope. Record what you see.
4. Discharge the electroscope by touching the twisted wire with your finger for a little while.
5. Comb your hair with the comb. Touch the comb to the twisted wire. Record what you see.
6. Repeat steps 1 and 3 again without discharging the electroscope in between the steps. What happens?
Since the spiraled copper wire had a positive charge after step 1 and we charged it again with a negative
charge in step 3, the leaves will become less positively charged and drop closer to each other.
7. What would happen if you touched the twisted wire two times in a row with a “charged” pen? Try it.
Remember to “recharge” the pen each time by rubbing it with the silk cloth. What happened?
The leaves would still repel but closer to each other since it took some time to recharge the pen for the
second charging.
8. Experiment to figure out how to get the leaves as far apart as possible. What did you do?
Rub the balloon in your head longer(2 minutes) then the leaves will get farther to each other.
9. Find two (2) other objects in your house to test with the electroscope. Add these materials in your record sheet.

Data and Results

Electroscope Chart
Object Electroscope’s Reaction

Balloon
The aluminum foils repelled each other
Probable Charge = NEGATIVE

The aluminum foils repelled each other

Pen
Probable Charge = POSITIVE

Plastic Comb The aluminum foils repelled each other

 1 General Physics 2

Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600

Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786; Grade Level/Section:
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
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Probable Charge = NEGATIVE

The aluminum foils repelled each other

Object: STRAW
Probable Charge = POSITIVE

Object: FORK
The aluminum foils did not repel
Probable Charge = NEGATIVE

Questions for Analysis (10 points)

TRUE OR FALSE: Write TRUE if the statement is correct, otherwise write FALSE.
1. Before testing the electroscope, the foil strip is positively charged. 1. FALSE
2. Before testing the electroscope, the foil strip is negatively charged. 2. FALSE
3. Before testing the electroscope, the foil strip is neutrally charged. 3. TRUE
4. The foil strips repel when it is discharged. 4. FALSE
5. When you touch the twisted wire with the positively charged pen, the electrons 5. TRUE
travel from the foil to the pen leaving the foil strips with positive charge.
6. The distance between the foil strips will increase when we touch the twisted wire
with a charged object more than once. 6. TRUE
7. The foil strips spread apart due to same charge received.
8. The greater the charge, the lesser the distance that will be created between the foil 7. TRUE
strip. 8. FALSE
9. We can determine the charge present in the foil strip of the electroscope.
10. When the twisted wire is touched with a charged object, the foil strip will be 9. TRUE
discharged and return to its original position.
10. FALSE

DOCUMENTATIONS
MATERIAL
S
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Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600

Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786; Grade Level/Section:
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
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MODULE 2 – Physics 2 Subject Teacher:

CREATING
THE LID

INSERTING
THE
STRAW
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Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600

Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786; Grade Level/Section:
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
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MODULE 2 – Physics 2 Subject Teacher:

CREATING
SURFACE
AREA
1 General Physics 2

Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600

Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786; Grade Level/Section:
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
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INSERTING
PIECES OF
ALUMINUM
FOIL INTO
HOOK OF
COPPER
WIRE

FINAL SET-
UP
1 General Physics 2

Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600

Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786; Grade Level/Section:
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
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MODULE 2 – Physics 2 Subject Teacher:

BALLOON
CHARGING

PEN
CHARGING
1 General Physics 2

Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600

Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786; Grade Level/Section:
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
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MODULE 2 – Physics 2 Subject Teacher:

COMB
GHARGING
1 General Physics 2

Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600

Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786; Grade Level/Section:
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
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STRAW
CHARGING

FORK
CHARGING

VIDEO DOCUMENTATION
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hmp31MecZ5AdEN8MwZBatZvC4cx67_dh/view?usp=sharing

GENERAL PHYSICS LABORATORY REPORT RUBRIC

Rubrics Exceed expectation Meets expectation Doesn’t meet expectation

Equipment/ Materials Student has made use of Student needed guidance to Student was unable to make
correct/ alternative make use of correct/ use of correct/ alternative
equipment/ materials. alternative equipment/ equipment/ materials. 1
1 General Physics 2

Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600

Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786; Grade Level/Section:
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268
Email: [email protected]; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 2 – Physics 2 Subject Teacher:

materials. 3
5
Procedure Student clearly followed Student followed the Students were unable to
the steps of experiment. steps of experiment with follow the steps of
5 guidance. 3 experiment. 1

Data recording/ Collection Student has correctly Student has performed Student was unable to
measured the relevant incorrect identify measurement of
parameters. measurement of relevant
All data is presented in a relevant parameters. parameters.
manner that is Most data are presented in a Data is incomplete,
organized and easy to read. manner that is unorganized and confusing
Data includes graphs, organized and easy to read. to the reader.
charts, tables, Data includes graphs,
measures, etc. 8-10 charts, tables,
measures, etc. 5-7
1-4

Results Accurate results have been The achieved results No results are achieved or
achieved. are not accurate but are the
within tolerance range. achieved results are
5-7 meaningless.
8-10
1-4
Questions for Analysis Uses observations, data, Uses most evidence to Uses some evidence to
vocabulary, and other create a statement create a statement
evidence to create a well- showing knowledge gained. showing knowledge gained.
supported statement
showing knowledge gained.
8-10
5-7 1-4

Documentation Pictures are well-organized Pictures are well-organized Pictures are unorganized
with caption and complete. and and incomplete.
complete but without
5 caption. 3 1

Safety Student carefully observes Student observes safety Student does not care about
the safety rules and safety rules during practical
rules and procedures procedure with minor work.
during practical work. 5 deviation during
practical work. 3 1
1

General Physics 2
Governor Pack Road, Baguio City, Philippines 2600
Tel. Nos.: (+6374) 442-3316, 442-8220; 444-2786;
442-2564; 442-8219; 442-8256; Fax No.: 442-6268 Grade Level/Section:
Email: [email protected]; Website: www.uc-bcf.edu.ph

MODULE 2 – Physics 2 Subject Teacher: