electroscopen.
/ᵻˈlɛktrəskəʊp/, U.S. /əˈlɛktrəˌskoʊp/, /iˈlɛktrəˌskoʊp/ Physics.
An instrument for ascertaining the presence of an electric charge on an object, and giving an indication of its magnitude, based on the mutual attraction or repulsion of two thin metal leaves, plates, etc. Cf. electrometer n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > electric charge, electricity > [noun] > instrument for measuring
electrometer1749
electroscope1776
coulometer1902
integrating meter1902
1776 tr. G. Beccaria Treat. Artific. Electr. i. iii. 36 At every touching of one of the animated systems, the divergency of the electroscope of the man becomes equal to the divergency of the fellow-electroscope which is annexed to the system.
1810 J. A. De Luc in Jrnl. Nat. Philos. Oct. 82 The pile produces the same effects with so small a quantity of the [electric] fluid, as to be often hardly sufficient to move the gold leaf electroscope.
1824 Mechanics' Mag. No. 66. 150 The aerial electroscope is an instrument for determining the electric state of the atmosphere.
1879 Encycl. Brit. VIII. 34/1 Advantage of this principle has been taken in the condensing electroscope of Volta, which is an ordinary gold-leaf apparatus, except that the knob is replaced by a circular disc.
1940 G. H. J. Adlam & L. S. Price Higher School Certificate Inorg. Chem. (ed. 2) lvii. 591 Uranium salts..ionized the air around, for when brought near a charged gold-leaf electroscope, they caused the leaves to collapse.
1976 I. Asimov Eyes on Universe xii. 235 Such radiation could be detected by an ‘electroscope’ which consists of two thin sheets of gold leaf attached to a rod.
2005 Physics Educ. 40 532/1 A simple electroscope can be made using a can, some tissue paper or foil and a rubber band.
Derivatives
electroˈscopic adj. involving or characteristic of the electroscope.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > [adjective] > relating to measurement
electrometrical1779
electroscopic1834
1834 E. Turner Elem. Chem. (ed. 5) i. iii. 127 Several simple electroscopic methods have already been indicated.
1859 T. P. Shaffner Tel. Man. 78 Had Galvani been as good an electrician as he was anatomist,..he would have considered the movements of the frog as evidence of nothing more than a high electroscopic sensibility in its nerves.
1879 G. B. Prescott Speaking Telephone (new ed.) 285 The electroscopic delicacy of the telephone.
1928 F. Paneth Radio-elements as Indicators iii. 35 The presence of no more than 10−17 gram of thorium C is sufficient for electroscopic detection.
2000 Jrnl. Membrane Sci. 170 91 The composition and phase structures of the alloy film were studied by energy dispersive electroscopic analysis.
electroˈscopically adv.
ΚΠ
1876 Proc. Royal Soc. 25 420 Investigated electroscopically they exhibit, so long as they are in the living state, no variation of potential.
1942 T. P. Wolfe tr. W. Reich Discov. Orgone I. iv. 95 The orgone energy can be demonstrated visually, thermically, and electroscopically in the soil, the atmosphere and in plant and animal organisms.
1996 R. L. Sime Lise Meitner: Life in Physics ii. 42 They easily recognized a strongly deflected line from thorium X, whose beta radiation was so easily absorbed that it had been detected electroscopically only with great difficulty.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.1776