Tape Electroscope

Add to list Go to activity
Activity link broken? See if it's at the internet archive
In this simple activity, learners create an electroscope by sticking two short pieces of magic tape together and then pulling them apart to find the sign of the charge on an unknown charged object. Learners will discover that like charges repel and that charged things attract uncharged things.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
Under 5 minutes
Learning Time:
10 to 30 minutes
Estimated Materials Cost:
$1 - $5 per student
Age Range:
Ages 8 - 18
Resource Type:
Activity
Language:
English

Materials List (per student)

  • Scotch Magic Tape, 3/4" wide
  • a plastic or rubber comb
  • a piece of wool or human hair
  • a table
  • an unknown charged object
  • marker or pen

Keywords

Subjects

  • Physical Sciences
    • Electricity and Magnetism
      • Electric Charges and Currents
      • Electromagnetic Fields
    • Structure and Properties of Matter
  • The Nature of Science
    • The Scientific Process
      • Conducting Investigations

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Other

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

  • Doherty, Paul

Rights:

  • All rights reserved, Exploratorium, 1999