Basics to Electrostatics

What determines whether an atom is electrically neutral or charged?

• The number of protons in the nucleus

• The number of neutrons in the nucleus

• The number of electrons surrounding the nucleus

• The mass of the atom

The charge on a single proton is ___ Coulomb.

How do the electrical properties of materials differ between conductors and insulators?

What occurs during induction when a charged object is brought close to a neutral object?

• • The neutral object becomes magnetized.

• • The charges in the neutral object redistribute, leading to attraction or repulsion.

• • The neutral object gains the charge of the charged object.

• • The charged object loses its charge to the neutral object

After rubbing a balloon on a wool sweater, the balloon is negatively charged. When the balloon is brought close to another balloon that was also rubbed on a wool sweater, they repel each other. What can be inferred about the charges on the two balloons?

• Both balloons are positively charged.

• • Both balloons are negatively charged.

• • One balloon is positively charged, and the other is negatively charged.

• • Both balloons are electrically neutral.

Metal Sphere X has a charge of +8 µC, and Metal Sphere Y has a charge of -5 µC. If the two spheres are brought into contact and then separated, which sphere will end up with a higher positive charge?

• • Sphere X

• • Sphere Y

• • Both will have the same charge

• • Both will have zero charge.