High Voltage Electrostatic Pendulum

Abstract

A pendulum powered by high voltage electricity is described. The pendulum consists of two conducting plates(thin foil) separated by copper rods and are insulated from each other. High voltage is applied to these plates through the connecting copper rods. Another stationary aluminum plate(thin foil) is placed in front of the pendulum such that it serves to attract the pendulum plates and makes electrical contact with them enabling charge transfer between the stationary plate and the pendulum plates. The pendulum is powered by the energy stored in the capacitance between the stationary aluminum plate and the pendulum plate. Attempt has been made to obtain the time period of oscillations as a function of applied voltage and other parameters. The derived formula for the time period has been verified experimentally. This apparatus can be used to demonstrate electrical phenomena in general and in particular electrical energy stored in conductors of small dimensions.