Department of Education

NATIONAL SCIENCE TEACHING INSTRUMENTATION CENTER

DO-IT-YOURSELF (DIY) SCIENCE EQUIPMENT

PROJECT ELECTROSCOPE
CONCEPT An electroscope is an instrument used to detect the presence of
static electricity. It consists of two thin paper sheets suspended
from a metal hook. When the hook is brought near a source of
static electricity, some of the electrons in the hook are pushed to
the paper sheets (if the source is negative) or pulled up from the
paper sheets (if the source is positive). Either way, the paper
sheets are now charged the same way as each other and so they
repel each other. The repulsion is proportional to the charge of the
source (if the sources are always held at the same distance from
the hook). Electroscopes are also useful for measuring the
quantity of charges, the more charge transferred to the metal
hook, the more the tissue paper sheets repel.

TOOLS Scissors, Cutter

MATERIALS:
QTY SPECIFICATIONS
1 pc. Transparent Plastic jar, dia. 75mm X 100mm height
1 pc. 25mm X 100mm X 100mm Styropore sheet
1 sht Facial tissue paper
1 pc Cola can
Masking tape

PROCEDURE:

1) Cut a 55mm diameter circle out of the styropore sheet and attach it to the center of the
inside part of the cover using hot glue.
2) Make an incision at the center of the cover using heated cutter blade enough for the tin
aluminum strip to fit.
3) From the cola can cut 10mm X 120mm of tin aluminum sheet and tapered at one end.
4) Shape the other end into a coil of about 20mm.
5) Insert the tin aluminum sheet into the incision on the cover leaving the coiled part
outside.
6) Cut two thin strips of tissue paper and attach to both sides of the tin aluminum sheet with
tapered end using the masking tape.(see drawing)
7) Cover the jar.

Electroscope
 2

FUNCTIONALITY TEST:
1) Get a plastic sheet 150mm X 150mm rub it with wool (4 to 5 times) in one direction and
bring it closer to the loop of the tin aluminum can. Observe the tissue paper inside the
jar.
2) If the tissue paper did not move, rub again the plastic sheet and bring it closer to the loop
but this time you have to touch the loop with your finger before removing the plastic
sheet.

Assembly Guide:
PART SPECIFICATIONS
CODE
a plastic jar
d
b plastic jar cover

c styropore

d tin aluminum can

e tissue paper
b

e e
c

ELECTROSCOPE

Electroscope