Coulomb Balance Lab Report

What we did next shocked us and it will shock you as we explain how and what we did in order to investigate the enigma known as the Coulomb balance.
             We began by using the apparatus shown in Figure 1. This coulomb balance consisted of a torsion balance made of fiber (A), a counter weight, damning vane, and a rod. The sphere b, when charged, would exert a force on sphere a, causing it to spin until the torques were balanced. .
             First we aligned the apparatus correctly by rotating the knob on top so that the angle of torsion was zero. Next, ensuring that our measurements would not be wrong, and certain that our alignment was at zero, we double checked one more time by sliding sphere b into position where it barely touched sphere a, and the reading on the scale was 3.8 (the diameter of the spheres), meaning that in fact we had set the apparatus correctly.
             Following this joyous finding, we then charged the spheres by first turning the energy supply on, and after making sure the wires and spheres were grounded, we moved the spheres to a maximum distance from each other. We then grounded the spheres one more time to ensure they were completely chargeless. We also set the power supply to 6V and began the experiment. Next we touched each sphere with the charged probe, in turn giving the spheres a charge as well. .
             We then used these charged spheres for readings by moving sphere b to the 10 cm mark of the scale and then balanced the angle of sphere a before the charge wore off. This was done multiple times in order to reduce error and also ensure accuracy. The point in time where the sphere no longer rotated when it was next to sphere b was considered the level point. This process was repeated over and over until 4 confident readings were taken. .
             Following such an electrifying experience, my partner and I continued in the same manner, but this time we used a charge of 4 kV, following the same process as described above.