Introduction to Electroscopes 

The Invention of Electroscopes

It is probably fair to say that the electroscope was invented in 1746 by the Frenchman Jean Nollet, but that the gold leaf electroscope (which is what we generally think of when we think of electroscopes) was invented by the Englishman, Abraham Bennet (Phil. Trans. 77, p. 26, 1787). 

The Purpose of Electroscopes

The primary function of the electroscope has always been to demonstrate various electrostatic phenomena, e.g., conduction and induction of electric charges. Nevertheless, the electroscope has played a significant role in the measurement of radiation and radioactive substances. This was particularly true in the first few decades that followed the discovery of x-rays in 1895 by Wilhelm Rontgen and radioactivity in 1896 by Henri Becquerel. In fact, the electroscope was one of the most important devices used by these two men for their measurements. Even today, electroscopes are still used to measure radiation: the pocket dosimeters that many facilities assign to visitors are actually quartz fiber electroscopes!

The Sensitive Element of Electroscopes

The sensing element of the earliest electroscopes consisted of one or two thin metallic (e.g., gold) leaves.  In the 1930s, those performing measurements of radiation and radioactivity began switching to quartz fiber electroscopes. The latter were rugged, easy to set up, and could be operated in any orientation. However, because the quartz fibers can’t be seen without the aid of a microscope, they don’t lend themselves to classroom demonstrations of electrostatic phenomena.

The Basic Principle of Operation

For simplicity, the following discussion assumes we are using a gold leaf electroscope.   

The gold leaves (or leaf) are first given an electrostatic charge that causes them to be deflected from their normal resting position. Anything that then reduces this charge causes the leaves to fall back towards their original position. Radiation can do this if it ionizes the air in the vicinity of the electroscope’s leaves (or a component of the electroscope in electrical contact with the leaves). The rate at which the leaves move is a measure of the intensity of the radiation.

The movement of the leaf might be observed with or without the aid of a microscope.  If a microscope were used, it would incorporate a scale inside the eyepiece. If the leaves were viewed by eye without the aid of a microscope, and quantitative measurements were needed, some sort of scale might have been positioned behind the leaf or leaves. On occasion, a telescope was used so as to observe the movement of the leaves at a distance. This, for example, could reduce the observer’s radiation exposures.

As a rule, an electroscope of the 1800s had a glass bell-jar shaped body and two gold leaves that were suspended from the bottom of  a “lead-in” that entered through the top of the electroscope. Either a metal sphere or horizontal flat disk (Volta plate) was connected to the top of the lead-in. 

Electroscopes of the late 1800s and early 1900s tended to be box-like or cylindrical. The body was mostly metal with two opposite sides made of glass.  Instead of using two gold leaves, these instruments often employed a single leaf attached at its top to a stationary flat metal strip (figure on left).

The sensitivity of some electroscopes could be increased by electrically separating the leaves from the lead-in by the use of an insulator. However, if this was done, it was necessary to employ a moveable rod for charging or grounding the leaves.

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