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Coulomb's torsion balance is in the shape of a cylinder with the pan inside.

Coulomb’s torsion balance

Coulomb's torsion balance is in the shape of a cylinder with the pan inside.

"One of the best-known instruments of this [electrometer] class is Coulomb's torsion-balance, which consists essentially of gilt ball, i, carried at the end of a horizontal shellac needle that is suspended by a fine silver wire from the top of a tube that rises from the cover of the enclosing glass cylinder. A vertical insulating rod passing through the cover carries a handle, a, and a gilt ball, e, at its ends." -Avery 1895

Coulomb's Torsion-Balance

"One of the best-known instruments of this [electrometer] class is Coulomb's torsion-balance, which…

F, fixed coil; D, movable coil; S, spiral spring; T, Torsion head; MM, Mercury cups; I, Index needle.

Siemens Electrodynamometer

F, fixed coil; D, movable coil; S, spiral spring; T, Torsion head; MM, Mercury cups; I, Index needle.

Apparatus for breaking a plate of glass by torsion, with an example of results produced.

Torsion Apparatus

Apparatus for breaking a plate of glass by torsion, with an example of results produced.

"ABCD is a cylinder of glass 1 foot in diameter and 1 foot high. This cylinder is closed by a glass lid pierced centrically by two openings, each about 20 lines wide. Into the middle opening is cemented a glass tube 2 feet high, to the upper end of which is fitted a torsion head; the separate parts of the head are shown larger at the side of the figure. H is a collar cemented to the glass tube; MO a metal disc, divided on the edge into 360 degrees; this disc is fastened to a tube N, which slips into the collar H. K is a button whose neck turns easily in a hole in MO; to the lower part of the button is fastened a small clamp, which seizes the wire of the balance. I is an arm with a small projecting piece which slips over the edge of the disc MO." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Torsion Balance

"ABCD is a cylinder of glass 1 foot in diameter and 1 foot high. This cylinder is closed by a glass…

Arrangement of fractures in a large plate of glass which was broken by torsion.

Glass Broken by Torsion

Arrangement of fractures in a large plate of glass which was broken by torsion.