Why is gold most preferred metal for making the leaves of an electroscope? What is the function of the thin metal plates on the side walls of the electroscope? If the metal disc of an electroscope is replaced by an ebonite plate and a charged body is brought in contact, will there be any effect on the leaves? Explain .

Dear Student ,
As gold is malleable metal .Not only gold but also copper is also used here in electroscope .

• A reason why these metals are used is that they are malleable more than any other metal. To use the electroscope, you need to put a thin trey into it.

• Another reason is that Gold is less reactive. If you put a highly reactive metal as trey's substance, then that metal will react with the electrons that pass through it and will leave the observer a hard chance of having a good view.

This thin metal plates helps in the earthing of the charges that accumulate on the side walls of the electroscope .

No there will not be any repulsion .The charged body will not transfer any type of charge to ebonite rod as the ebonite rod is an insulator .Therefore there will not be any charge on the gold strips and the strips will not repel each other .
Regards