electrostatic voltmeter

instrument

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 26, 2026

Quick Summary

An electrostatic voltmeter is a type of electrometer specifically designed to measure electrical potential and is calibrated to display readings directly in volts or kilovolts. Unlike other voltmeters that measure voltage indirectly through the effect of current, the electrostatic voltmeter utilizes electrostatic forces for direct voltage measurement. It is particularly useful for measuring very small voltages and currents. This instrument is a specialized form of electrometer, which itself is an instrument for measuring minute electrical potentials and currents.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

voltmeter
…types of voltmeters include the electrostatic voltmeter, which uses electrostatic forces and, thus, is the only voltmeter to measure voltage directly rather than by the effect of current. The potentiometer operates by comparing the voltage to be measured with known voltage; it is used to measure very low voltages. The…
Read More
…types of voltmeters include the electrostatic voltmeter, which uses electrostatic forces and, thus, is the only voltmeter to measure voltage directly rather than by the effect of current. The potentiometer operates by comparing the voltage to be measured with known voltage; it is used to measure very low voltages. The…
Read More