A Visual Demonstration of Two-Dimensional Electrostatic Fields

Concurrently with the recently published work of Jones and Vacanti, the authors have developed a similar method for providing visual displays of electrostatic fields. However the preparation of the displays is somewhat different and leads, the authors believe, to higher quality reproductions. The purpose of the present note is to describe the method which utilizes the familiar field-mapping technique using resistive paper (teledeltos) and the thermal properties of cholesteric liquid crystals. As well some of the displays are presented here to demonstrate the effectiveness of this new electrostatics teaching aid.