Electrostatic Induction

A child slides down a plastic playground slide, causing their hair to stand on end. What is the primary reason for this phenomenon?

• The child's hair gained protons from the slide, making it positively charged.

• Friction between the hair and the slide caused electrons to transfer, leaving the hair with a net positive charge.

• The slide transferred its static charge directly to the child's hair through contact.

• The child's hair became negatively charged, attracting positive charges from the air.

An electroscope's leaves separate when a charged rod is brought near it without touching, but return to their original position when the rod is removed. If the rod then touches the electroscope, the leaves remain separated even after the rod is removed. What do these observations demonstrate?

• The electroscope was charged by conduction, then by induction.

• The electroscope was charged by induction, then by conduction.

• The electroscope was charged by friction, then by induction.

• The electroscope was charged by induction, then discharged by conduction.

What is the fundamental difference in charge behavior between a conductor and an insulator?

• Conductors only contain positive charges, while insulators only contain negative charges.

• Electrons in conductors are mobile and can move freely, whereas electrons in insulators are fixed.

• Insulators can be charged by friction, but conductors cannot.

• Conductors allow protons to move, while insulators prevent proton movement.

What is the primary difference in electron behavior between a charged conductor and a charged insulator?

• Electrons in a conductor are fixed, while in an insulator they are mobile.

• Electrons in a conductor are mobile, while in an insulator they are fixed.

• Both conductors and insulators have mobile electrons, but in different quantities.

• Both conductors and insulators have fixed electrons, but in different quantities.

Which statement accurately describes the difference between charging by induction and charging by conduction?

• Induction involves direct contact and charge transfer, while conduction involves charge redistribution without contact.

• Conduction involves direct contact and charge transfer, while induction involves charge redistribution without contact.

• Both induction and conduction result in permanent charge transfer to the object.

• Both induction and conduction only cause temporary charge redistribution.

A positively charged rod is brought near, but does not touch, the metal sphere of a neutral electroscope. What happens to the leaves of the electroscope?

• The leaves become negatively charged and move closer together.

• The leaves become positively charged and move closer together.

• The leaves become negatively charged and spread apart.

• The leaves become positively charged and spread apart.

A negatively charged plastic rod is used to touch the metal sphere of a neutral electroscope. After the rod is removed, what is the charge on the electroscope and how do its leaves behave?

• The electroscope is positively charged, and its leaves remain spread apart.

• The electroscope is negatively charged, and its leaves remain spread apart.

• The electroscope is neutral, and its leaves return to their original position.

• The electroscope is positively charged, and its leaves return to their original position.