El-9 Electrostatic Voltmeter
Published: Tuesday 14 March 2006 - Updated: Thursday 31 March 2011
Aim
To demonstrate the electrostatic voltmeter and to show the energy stored in a capacitor.
Apparatus
- Van de Graaff generator
- Electrostatic Voltmeter
- Insulated shorting stick
Diagrams
Click on pictures to enlarge.
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Electrostatic Voltmeter Diagram |
Description
The elctrostatic voltmeter is connected to the Van de Graaff generator; one plate to earth and the other to the dome using the shorting stick. The voltmeter works on the principle of charged plate attraction. The voltmeter is seen to rapidly reach full scale whereupon the capacitor discharges. It is possible to separate the plates to various distances and repeat the experiment.