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Virtual Lab: Basic Charge Attraction &Amp; Repulsion (Pithballs)
 University of Virginia
             
 
© 2003-Present, John C. Bean
 
A very light conducting ball is suspended by a thread. Today, we might make the ball by painting a foam sphere with metallic silver paint. In the past, these balls were made of "pith" (a special wood) and the name is still used to describe this experiment.

The rest of the apparatus consists of a Teflon or plastic rod, and a piece of fur or cloth. (Because we found fur very hard to draw, we have borrowed a dog to help us out).

 
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