1. an instrument for detecting the presence of electric charge or ionizing radiation
Usage: scientific

Examples

• The physics teacher demonstrated static electricity using a gold-leaf electroscope.
• Scientists used an electroscope to detect radiation from the radioactive sample.
• When the charged rod approached the electroscope, the metal leaves separated.
• The electroscope indicated the presence of electrical charge in the atmosphere.
• Students observed how the electroscope responded to different charged objects.
• The sensitive electroscope could detect even small amounts of static electricity.