ELECTRICITY-01_Static Electricity

A man pushes a metal trolley along a corridor towards a lift. The trolley has nylon wheels and the floor of the corridor is covered with plastic. The man wears shoes with rubber soles. As he moves the trolley, the man gains an electric charge. Explain how the man gains an electric charge.

The man presses a metal button to operate the lift. There is a spark and the man receives an electric shock. The spark lasts for 75 ms and 0.0017 C of charge passes. The average current in the spark is .... mA. State your answer in 1 decimal places.

When a plastic rod is rubbed with a cloth, the rod gains charge. How could you show that the plastic rod gains charge?

Explain how the plastic rod gains charge when it is rubbed.

There are two types of charge. Describe how you could demonstrate this using different insulating rods and a cloth. In your answer, you should name any other equipment you would use.

The photograph shows an investigation of static electricity. A teacher rubs a balloon with a cloth so that the balloon gains a positive charge. She then holds the balloon close to her head, and her hair rises. (a) Explain, in terms of moving charges, how the balloon becomes positively charged. (b) Explain why the teacher's hair rises. (c) Suggest why the charge remains on the balloon even when it is being held. (d) Suggest why the experiment does not work so well when the air is humid.

A car becomes electrically charged as it travels along a road. (a) (i) Explain how a moving car becomes electrically charged. (ii) Why does this charge remain on the car after it has stopped moving? (b) What is the dangerous of the car that is electrically charged?

This question is about electrostatic charges. (a) Complete the sentences using words from the box. Each word may be used once, more than once or not at all. When a plastic rod is rubbed with a cloth, the plastic rod gains .............................................................. After the plastic rod has been rubbed with the cloth, the plastic rod has a .............................................................. charge.

• electrons, positive

• electrons, negative

• protons, positive

• protons, negative

• electrons, neutral

Electrostatic charges can be useful during paint spraying. The droplets of paint are given the same charge as they leave the sprayer. Supposed the droplets of paint are positively charged and the object being painted is given a negative charge. Explain why this is an advantage.

Electrostatic charges can be useful during paint spraying. But it brings risk. Give one hazard caused by electrostatic charges and state how the risk from this hazard can be reduced.