Electrostatics

During a physics lab, a plastic strip was rubbed with cotton and became positively charged. The correct explanation for why the plastic strip becomes positively charged is that ...

• the plastic strip acquired extra protons from the cotton.
  
• the plastic strip acquired extra protons from the charging process 
• protons were created as the result of the charging process
  
• the plastic strip lost electrons to the cotton during the charging process 

Insulators are different than conductors in that insulators ____.

• do not contain electrons or protons 
•  do not contain any charge
• have a weaker affinity for electrons 
• do not allow charge to freely move 

Consider the conduction charging shown. 

• Electrons move from the insulating stand into the sphere.
• Protons move from the bar into the sphere.
• Electrons move from the charged metal bar into the sphere.
• Protons move from the sphere into the negatively charged bar.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS3-5

A glass rod becomes positively charged when it is rubbed with silk. This net positive charge accumulates because the glass rod

• gains electrons
• loses electrons
• gains protons
• loses protons

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS3-5

 A balloon is rubbed against a student's hair and then touched to a wall. The balloon sticks to the wall due to

• magnetic forces between the particles of the balloon and the particles of the wall
• electrostatic forces between the particles of the balloon and the particles of the wall
• magnetic forces between the particles of the wall
• electrostatic forces between the particles of the balloon

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-3

NGSS.MS-PS2-5

A negatively charged plastic comb is brought close to, but does not touch, a small piece of paper. If the comb and the paper are attracted to each other, the charge on the paper

• must be positive
• must be negative
• may be neutral or negative
• may be neutral or positive 

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-4

NGSS.HS-PS3-5

Two electrically charged identical-sized metal spheres, A (charge of -4) and B (charge of +8). If the spheres are brought into contact, which sphere will have a net gain of electrons?

• both A and B
• neither
• only A
• only B

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-4

When a plastic rod is rubbed with wool, the wool acquires a positive charge because

• protons are transferred from the wool to the rod
• protons are transferred from the rod to the wool
• electrons are transferred from the rod to the wool
• electrons are transferred from the wool to the rod

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-2

A positively charged rod is held near the knob of a neutral electroscope. What best describes what will happen to the leaves?

• the leaves will spread apart and be positive
• the leaves will spread apart and be negative
• the leaves will stay closed and be positive
• the leaves will stay closed and be negative

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-4

Two electrically neutral metal spheres, A and B, on insulating stands are placed in contact with each other. A negatively charged rod is brought near, but does not touch the spheres, as shown in the diagram below. How are the spheres now charged?

• A is positive and B is positive.
• A is negative and B is positive.
• A is positive and B is negative.
• A is negative and B is negative.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-4

NGSS.HS-PS3-5