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Shuttling Ball Experiment

OCR A-level PhysicsElectric FieldsLesson 2 of 17

The shuttling ball experiment shows that a current is a flow of charge. A light ball with a conducting coating is hung from an insulating thread between two vertical metal plates, which are connected to a high-voltage supply.

Diagram

When the ball touches the negative plate, electrons flow onto it and it becomes negatively charged. It is then repelled by the negative plate and attracted towards the positive plate. On touching the positive plate it gives up electrons, becomes positively charged, and is repelled back towards the negative plate.

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