electroscope

American  

[ih-lek-truh-skohp] / ɪˈlɛk trəˌskoʊp /

noun

1. a device for detecting the presence and determining the sign of electric charges by means of electrostatic attraction and repulsion, often between two pieces of gold leaf enclosed in a glass-walled chamber.

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electroscope British  

/ ɪˈlɛktrəʊˌskəʊp, ɪˌlɛktrəʊˈskɒpɪk /

noun

1. an apparatus for detecting an electric charge, typically consisting of a rod holding two gold foils that separate when a charge is applied

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• electroscopic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of electroscope

First recorded in 1815–25; electro- + -scope

Example Sentences

However, while the rod is close, the electroscope is momentarily grounded and then the rod is removed.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

There, some are transferred to the positive rod by touch, leaving the electroscope with a net positive charge.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

Because the glass rod is an insulator, it must actually touch the electroscope to transfer charge to or from it.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

When the second bag blew up, the remaining ones hovered practically stationary until a clockwork device released a red parachute and dropped a self-charging electroscope which had been recording cosmic ray intensity all the while.

From Time Magazine Archive

It may also be charged by conduction, i.e. by the direct transfer of a charge to the electroscope.

From The New Gresham Encyclopedia Volume 4, Part 2: Ebert to Estremadura by Various