Chapter 20, Problem 51A

To determine

To explain:The behavior of the leaves of a positively charged electroscope if a positively and negatively charged rods are brought close to it.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

Electroscope is used in old days to detect the presence of electric charge in an object. Electroscope finds electric charge in an object by the movement of that object due to the electrostatic force on it. The quantity of charge in a test object is proportional to the voltage of an electroscope. But it gives only a rough idea about the amount of charge present in an object.

The force of attraction between the unlike charges and the force of repulsion between the like charges are called electrostatic force.

If a rod with positive charge is brought near the leaves of a positively charged electroscope, the leaves will move away from the rod. This is because of the presence of like charges in the rod and the electroscope. If the rod is negatively charged, then the leaves of a positively charged electroscope will drop slightly because of unlike charges in the rod and the electroscope.