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

These tiny sparks from the electrophorus, or the bigger discharges of an electrical machine, can be stored in a simple apparatus called a Leyden jar, which was discovered by accident.

From The Story of Electricity by Munro, John

His electrophorus in one form consisted of a disk of non-conducting material, such as pitch or resin, placed between two metal sheets, one being provided with an insulating handle.

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

These instruments are the electrophorus, the condenser of electricity, and the doubler of it.

From Heads of Lectures on a Course of Experimental Philosophy: Particularly Including Chemistry by Priestley, Joseph

The first suggestion for a machine of the above kind seems to have grown out of the invention of Volta’s electrophorus.

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