Faraday Ice Pail

​This demonstration shows the effect of electrostatic induction on a conducting container. It shows that an electric charge enclosed inside a conducting shell induces an equal charge on the shell, and that in an electrically conducting body, the charge resides entirely on the surface of the conductor. It also can demonstrate the principles behind electromagnetic shielding such as employed in the Faraday cage.

Setup:

Place the equipment on the lab table. Connect the cage to the electrometer by plugging the black cable into the front of the electrometer. Connect the Electrometer to the galvanometer by plugging the two pronged end of the galvanometer cable into the output on the back of the electrometer and the two banana plugs into the galvanometer. Connect the webcam to the projector system and set it up to view the electrometer.

Set the electrometer's "Multiplier" switch to 100, the "Range" switch to Volts, and the "Meter" switch to Plus. After about 30s, the meter's needle springs to life. Set the OPERATE switch to OPERATE.

Rub the two proof planes together inside the inner cage. Remove one plane from the cage. The galvanometer indicates the charge on the plane left in the cage by swinging into the negative or positive direction. The instructor then repeats this procedure with the other proof plane.

At the end of the demo, please return the OPERATE switch to ZERO CHECK.

Notes:

None

Courses Used In:

• PHY 10320

• PHY 20435

• PHY 30220

Discussion and Polling Questions:

Coming Soon

Equipment Needed:

• Keithley 621 Electrometer

• Faraday Ice Pail with Cable

• 2 Different Proof Planes

• Galvanometer with gray galvanometer cable

• Webcam