Home work: Worksheet on Static Electricity

Points to keep in mind:

a. Conductors cannot have static electricity. Static electricity needs an insulator

b. When materials are rubbed against each other, electric charges are not created but only transfers
electrons from one object to the other.
c. Electrons move from high potential to low potential (i.e from high number to low number)
d. A neutral object can be charged by induction

1. Draw appropriate charges on each material and show the transfer of charges after rubbing.

Balloon

Balloon

Cloth

Cloth

Balloon and cloth before rubbing

Balloon and cloth after rubbing

2. What happens if the balloon in stage 2 of Question 1 is in contact with a metal strip? Explain.
Metal

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Balloon

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3. Why a PC monitor is covered with dust?

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4. After gaining electrons from the cloth, can the polythene rod attract small pieces of paper?
Explain.
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5. Figure shows a copper rod and a piece of cloth. What happens when you rub the rod with the
cloth? Explain your answer.
Copper
rod

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Cloth

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6. Figure shows two polythene rods under two different situations. Write which pair attracts and
which pair repels. Write the property you used for each case.
+
+
+
+
+
+

+
+
+
+
+
+
(a)

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Property:.........................................
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+
+
+
+
+
+

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Property:..........................................
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(b)

7. When you walk across a nylon carpet, you become negatively charged. When you touch a
metal handle you receive a shock. Explain why this happens.
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