Fourth Form - IGCSE Electrostatics and Atomic Structure

A polythene rod is rubbed with a cloth.

The rod and the cloth both become charged as electrons move between them. The rod becomes negatively charged. Which diagram shows how the rod becomes negatively charged, and the final charge on the cloth?

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A flexible electrical cable consists of a central conductor and outer insulation.

• A

• B

• C

• D

A polythene rod repels an inflated balloon hanging from a nylon thread. Why do the rod and balloon repel?

• The rod and the balloon have opposite charges.

• The rod and the balloon have like charges.

• The rod is charged but the balloon is not.

• The balloon is charged but the rod is not.

Two plastic rods P and Q are both negatively charged. Rod P hangs freely.

• A

• B

• C

• D

A plastic rod is rubbed with a cotton cloth. This process causes the rod and the cloth to become charged. These charges cause a force between the rod and the cloth. Which row compares the charges on the rod and the cloth, and describes the effect of the force between the rod and the cloth?

• A

• B

• C

• D

A teacher wishes to show the production of electrostatic charges.

She holds a rod and rubs it with a cotton cloth. A copper rod, a glass rod, a plastic rod and a steel rod are available.

Which two rods would both be suitable to use?

• a copper rod and a glass rod

• a glass rod and a plastic rod

• a plastic rod and a copper rod

• a plastic rod and a steel rod

A plastic rod and a dry cloth are uncharged. The rod is now rubbed with the cloth and they both become charged.

The rod becomes negatively charged because some charged particles move from the cloth to the rod.

What is the charge on the cloth and which particles moved in the charging process?

• A

• B

• C

• D

A negatively charged rod is held close to one side of a metal sphere. The other side of the sphere is earthed.

Which diagram shows the distribution of charge on the metal sphere?

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A positively charged plastic rod is placed just above a thick metal plate. The metal plate rests on an insulator and is connected to the earth by a wire.

A student disconnects the earthing wire and then removes the positively charged rod. The experiment is repeated. This time the student removes the positively charged rod and then removes the earthing wire.

Which statement is correct?

• When the earthing wire is disconnected first, the metal plate becomes positively charged.

• When the earthing wire is disconnected first, the metal plate becomes negatively charged.

• When the plastic rod is removed first, the metal plate becomes positively charged.

• When the plastic rod is removed first, the metal plate becomes negatively charged.

Two balloons, X and Y, are suspended by insulating threads. They are each held near a negatively charged balloon. The balloons hang as shown.

What is the charge on balloon X and what is the charge on balloon Y?

• A

• B

• C

• D