大象传媒

Static electricity

When insulating materials rub against each other, they may become electrically . , which are negatively charged, may be 鈥榬ubbed off鈥 one material and on to the other. The material that gains electrons becomes negatively charged. The material that loses electrons is left with a positive charge.

Image gallerySkip image gallerySlide 1 of 3, A plastic rod is covered in negative charges (electrons). It is adjacent to a duster covered in positive charges., 1. A plastic rod covered in negative charges is placed next to a duster covered in positive charges

When a polythene rod is rubbed with a duster, the causes electrons to gain energy. Electrons gain enough energy to leave the atom and 鈥榬ub off鈥 onto the polythene rod.

  • The polythene rod has gained electrons, giving it a negative charge.
  • The duster has lost electrons, giving it a positive charge.

If the rod is swapped for a different material such as , electrons are rubbed off the acetate and onto the duster.

  • The acetate rod has lost electrons, giving it a positive charge.
  • The duster has gained electrons, giving it a negative charge.

Both the rods and the duster are made of materials. Insulators prevent the electrons from moving and the charge remains . , on the other hand, cannot become charged, as the electrons can move through them.

Connecting a static charge to earth using a conductor () will remove the excess charge as electrons will move to cancel out the charge.

Learn more on static charge in this podcast

Electrical forces

A charged object will experience from another charged object. The type of force will depend on the type of charge (positive or negative) on the two objects.

The properties of and are often used to show that an object is charged:

  • a charged rod can pick up small pieces of paper
  • a charged balloon can stick to the wall by attraction
  • a charged rod can pull a stream of water towards it

Example

If a negatively charged plastic rod is brought near to another negatively charged rod, the rods will move apart as they each other.

If a positively charged rod is brought close to a negatively charged rod, the rods will pull together as they each other.

Image gallerySkip image gallerySlide 1 of 3, A metal bar lying horizontally is suspended from string. It is adjacent to vertical metal bar. Both bars carry same charge. Bar on the string is repelled by the other, and swings away from it.,

The forces of attraction or repulsion are greater when the charged objects are closer.

Question

If a cloth rubs a plastic rod and the cloth is pulled away from the rod slightly, will the rod and cloth attract, repel or experience no force at all?