Static Charge Seperation

807 Words4 Pages
The purpose of this experiment was to observe the separation of positive and negative charges, learn techniques for measuring static charge distributions, and to observe the distribution of charges on conductors in the presence of different electric fields. A small wire basket connected to a volt meter was surrounded by a Faraday cage to prevent outside electric fields from affecting the experimental results. The Cage was thoroughly grounded. Two wands constructed of unknown materials (one blue and one white) were rapidly rubbed together to build up static charge. The wands were placed separately inside the cage and voltage was observed with the voltmeter connected to the cage. The blue wand read as -310 Volts for the first reading, and the white wand as +310 Volts. When both were in the cage they read a total of 0 Volts. This makes sense as the two equal but opposite charges together were a Net 0 electric field. A second test was performed with the Blue wand registering -290 Volts and the white wand at +200 Volts, when both were placed in the cage, a net -90 Volt charge was registered. The cause of the wands being unequal during the second test could be transfer of negative charge from the human holding the wand to the positively charged wand. Two pieces of clear adhesive tape were taped together, sticky side down so that the sticky side of on tape was applied to the non-sticky side of the other. The tapes were gently separated and measured for static charge using the cage/voltmeter apparatus. Together, before separation they measured -540V potential. After separation the top piece of tape measured +40 V and the bottom piece of tape measured -290V. The two pieces did not add up to the total potential most likely due to charge lost to human contact. Since the human skin contains electrolytes and water, it is a conductor and can receive charge

More about Static Charge Seperation

Open Document