Charge the electroscope you made earlier with a positive charge. Slowly bring the negatively charged body to it.

Charge the electroscope you made earlier with a positive charge. Slowly bring the negatively charged body to it. Observe first for a decrease in the angle of divergence of the petals to zero, and then, as the negatively charged body further approaches the electroscope, for an increase in the angle of divergence of the petals. Explain the observed phenomenon.

The electroscope contains an excess of negatively charged electrons, which are evenly distributed over the wire and petals. When a positively charged body is brought up, its field causes the phenomenon of electrostatic induction, as a result of which, at a certain moment, all excess electrons will collect on the ball of the electroscope. With a further approach of a positively charged body, the effect of its electric field increases and “collects” also other free electrons. As a result, the petals of the electroscope are charged positively.