Experiment Ea-23
Surface Charge Density
Description: A
set of large spheres and a set of small spheres are connected in parallel across
a Wimshurst machine. Although the spheres are at the same potential, they will
have different surface charges and surface fields since the spheres have different
radii. Sparks will jump between the small spheres rather than between the large
spheres, even though the distance between the surfaces of the small spheres is
the same as the distance between the surfaces of the larger spheres.
Left:
Set of
balls; Right: Wimshurst Machine
Connect
the wires between the devices as shown in the above picture.
If
the distance between the surfaces of the spheres is equal, there will
be sparks only between the smaller set of spheres.
SAFETY
INSTRUCTIONS
Be sure to discharge Wimshurst Machine before touching any metal components of it.
Materials: Wimshurst
machine, large conducting spheres, small conducting spheres
Back
to Site Menu
This page was last updated on
Thursday August 21, 2008 7:54 AM
