A method for non-contact drop charge measurement

A new approach for detecting point type of charge has been developed. This system is based on the principle of reciprocal motion of a grounded conductor near a point charge. The current induced through such a process can then be used to determine the static field strength of the point charge, hence the quantity of the charge. Experiments were done to understand the characteristics of this new device. Test case indicates that the results are in good agreement with the theoretical prediction. This device shows extremely good linearity with respect to the strength of the input static field. The resolution of the system is better than 10 V/m, which is about two orders of magnitude in sensitivity higher than other types of field measuring apparatus. The high sensitivity of this system makes it possible to conduct charged drop experiments under microgravity conditions.