Faraday Cage 5B20.30
Faraday cage, electrometer, and cables located in Electrostatics Cabinet, B1.
Charge producers (rods and fur) located in Electrostatics Cabinet, A1.
Hot air gun located in Thermodynamics Cabinet, B2
Connect the electrometer to the cage, with ground going to the outside cage.
Charge one of the rods by rubbing it with the fur.
This series of experiments illustrates something of the nature of electrostatic potential:
- bring the rod inside the inside cage, but do not touch it. Note the potential of the inside cage changes. Remove the rod. The potential of the cage returns to zero.
- bring the rod in between the inside cage and the outside cage, but do not touch either cage. Note the potential of the inside cage changes as before. Remove the rod. The potential of the cage returns to zero.
- bring the rod outside the outside cage. Note the potential of the inside cage changes little if at all.
Each of the cages is an equipotential, and the inside cage is shielded from fluctuations in potential that occur outside the outside cage.
The rods may be neutralized by passing hot air over them, using the hot air setting of the hot air gun.
Many other experiments are possible.