Static Electricity

What is static electricity primarily caused by?

• Movement of protons

• Discharge of neutrons

• Conduction in metals

• Build-up of charge on insulators

Why do insulating materials retain charge when rubbed together?

• Protons are transferred between materials

• Electrons do not move back to the original material

• Both materials become positively charged

• Electrons can flow back easily

What is the effect of friction on electron transfer?

• It has no effect

• It helps the transfer of electrons

• It prevents any transfer

• It cools down the materials involved

What determines the direction of electron transfer between materials?

• The distance between the materials

• The specific types of materials involved

• The temperature of the environment

• The size of the materials

What results from the transfer of electrons between two different materials?

• Both materials become neutral

• One material becomes positively charged, the other negatively

• No change in charge occurs

• Both materials become negatively charged

What happens when an object continuously gains electrons?

• It becomes more negatively charged

• It loses its charge quickly

• It becomes more positively charged

• No noticeable change occurs

What is the role of electrons in creating static electricity?

• Electrons are irrelevant to static electricity

• Only electrons are transferred, creating static charges

• Electrons stabilize the charges, preventing static

• Electrons create a barrier to charge flow

Why are protons not transferred during the creation of static electricity?

• They are too large

• They are not present in atoms

• They are tightly bound in the nucleus

• They are negatively charged

Under what condition can a spark occur between a charged object and the earth?

• When there is no potential difference

• When the charged object is a conductor

• When electrons are not involved

• When the potential difference is sufficiently large

What is the usual state of charge for earth objects?

• Negatively charged

• Positively charged

• Zero volts

• Variable charge