To use an electroscope to study electrostatic phenomena. In this lab you will use a deceptively simple device, an electroscope, to study the nature of charge. The electroscope's primary working parts are two connected conducting foil leaves.
Charge appears in two forms, positive and negative, and like charges repel.
In the schematic below we demonstrate the physical response. Qualitative schematic of electroscope response. In humid air insulators may adsorb enough moisture that charges leak off rapidly. If so, dry all insulators with a heat gun. In very dry or cold weather the humidity is so low that clothing, table tops, etc. become good insulators.