electrophorus

American  

[ih-lek-trof-er-uhs, ee-lek-] / ɪ lɛkˈtrɒf ər əs, ˌi lɛk- /

noun

electrophori plural

1. an instrument for generating static electricity by means of induction.

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electrophorus British  

/ ˌiːlɛk-, ɪlɛkˈtrɒfərəs /

noun

1. an apparatus for generating static electricity. It consists of an insulating plate charged by friction and used to charge a metal plate by induction

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electrophorus Scientific  

/ ĭ-lĕk′trŏf′ər-əs,ē′lĕk- /

electrophori plural

1. An electrostatic generator, constructed like one half of a large capacitor, the other half being any grounded surface, such as a table. A small charge is given to the electrophorus when it is near the grounded surface, effectively charging it like capacitor. As the electrophorous is lifted away from the surface, its voltage relative to the surface increases (as the capacitance decreases).

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• electrophori
  plural

Etymology

Origin of electrophorus

1770–80; electro- + -phorus, Latinization of -phore

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

electrophorus electrophori

Via http://www.develotech.net/Archive/Circuits/Docs/Lichtenberg%20Figure/Lichtenberg.htm First he used the electrophorus to blast  an insulating material, such as resin, glass or hard rubber, with a very high voltage.

From Scientific American ● Jul. 23, 2013

The study of Volta’s electrophorus at once suggested the performance of these cyclical operations by some form of rotation instead of elevation, and led to the invention of various forms of doubler or multiplier.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 2 "Ehud" to "Electroscope" by Various

When the charged plate or conductor of the electrophorus touches the knob the inner foil takes a positive charge, which induces a negative charge in the outer foil through the glass.

From The Story of Electricity by Munro, John

V. By vicinity; Volta's electrophorus and Rennet's doubler.

From The Temple of Nature; or, the Origin of Society A Poem, with Philosophical Notes by Darwin, Erasmus

This Volta electrophorus, and these three blackboards, will serve for the purpose.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 647, May 26, 1888 by Various

We found at Calabozo, in the midst of the Llanos, an electrical machine with large plates, electrophori, batteries, electrometers; an apparatus nearly as complete as our first scientific men in Europe possess.

From Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of America, During the Year 1799-1804 — Volume 2 by Humboldt, Alexander von