72 



ELEMENTS OF LABORATORY WORK 



brought into the electric field, they will be found to diverge so 

 that each approaches as nearly as possible to either of the two 

 electrified bodies. Instead of two pith balls, two strips of gold 

 leaf, hanging side by side, will be found to diverge very readily 

 when placed in the electric field. The gold leaves belonging 

 to the electroscope may be used. 



Each of these experiments is now tried with either of the 

 two bodies separated considerably from the other. Bring an 

 electrified body, either the object rubbed or the rubber, near 

 to an elongated body or two small bodies delicately suspended. 



If a single small body is brought near to an electrified body 



Fig. 23. 



it moves towards it, provided the stress between that small 

 body and the earth is not greater than the electrical stress. It 

 either remains in contact with the electrified body, or, after 

 contact, is repelled. If placed between two bodies that have 

 been rubbed and separated, it will move quickly to and fro 

 between them, if the distance is not too great. It must be 

 noted, however, that it first moves towards that body which is 

 nearest. 



If the small body is itself in this electrified condition it 

 will be either attracted or repelled by the larger electrified 



