Understanding Static Electricity

An electric field is created by particles that

• are moving.

• have a charge.

• are radioactive.

• are electrically neutral.

Answer explanation

An electric field is produced by particles that have a charge. Charged particles create electric fields due to their electric forces, while neutral particles do not generate such fields.

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Which is an example of gaining a static charge by conduction?

• Rubbing a balloon against your hair.

• Shuffling your shoes across a carpet.

• Bringing a charged rod near an electroscope.

• Touching your car on a cold day and getting a shock.

Answer explanation

Touching your car on a cold day transfers electrons, causing a static charge. This is conduction, as direct contact allows charge to flow, resulting in a shock. The other options involve different charging methods.

Jermaine and Lashonda each rub their dry hair with inflated balloons. What causes the balloons to push each other away?

• There must be a vent in the classroom blowing the two balloons apart.

• They have each gained negative charge from the hair rubbing, and like charges repel each other.

• They have each gained negative charge from the hair rubbing, and like charges attract each other.

• The rubber balloons are simply bouncing off each other the way a rubber ball bounces off the floor.

Answer explanation

When Jermaine and Lashonda rub their hair with balloons, they transfer negative charges to the balloons. Since both balloons have the same negative charge, they repel each other, causing them to push apart.

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What type of energy occurs when a sock is stuck to a blanket when it is taken out of the dryer?

• current electricity

• static electricity

• heat energy

• high voltage electricity

Answer explanation

When a sock is taken out of the dryer, it can become charged due to friction with the blanket, resulting in static electricity. This is the energy that causes the sock to stick to the blanket.

One type of static electricity is the lightning in a thunder and lightning storm. Clouds become negatively charged as ice crystals inside the clouds rub up against each other. Meanwhile, on the ground, the positive charge increases. The clouds get so highly charged that the electrons jump from the ground to the cloud, or from one cloud to another cloud. This causes a huge spark of static electricity in the sky that we call lightning.

• Rub a balloon so it picks up extra electrons from the sweater or your hair and becomes slightly negatively charged.

• Rub a balloon filled with air on a wool sweater or on your hair. Then, hold it up to a wall.

• Connect the positive pole of an electrical source to the negative pole so you create a circuit.

• Walk across a carpet, shuffling your feet and touching something made of metal.

Answer explanation

Walking across a carpet builds up static charge on your body. When you touch something metal, the excess electrons discharge, creating a spark, similar to how lightning occurs when charges equalize.

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Electricity can occur naturally, or it can be harnessed by humans. Which statement best describes how static electricity occurs?

• Wind can be collected by large wind turbines that mechanically power generators for electric power. This type of power is called static electricity.

• Static electricity occurs when opposite poles of two magnets are placed near each other. The attraction between the poles is called static electricity.

• Solar power can be collected by large solar panels on roofs and on land, which is turned into electricity. This collected energy is called static electricity.

• Electrons transfer when materials come in contact, leaving one object with an excess of electrons. The build-up of excess charge is called static electricity.

Answer explanation

Static electricity occurs when electrons transfer between materials upon contact, resulting in one object having an excess of electrons. This build-up of charge is what defines static electricity.

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When objects come in contact with one another, they transfer electrons. Which statement best explains the role of electrons in creating static electricity?

• Electrons move back and forth between magnetic objects, causing static electricity.

• Electrons are small currents that move along wires and deliver electricity to homes.

• Static electricity is the buildup of excess charge caused by the gain or loss of electrons.

• Static electricity is caused by friction between two objects and is felt in the form of heat.

Answer explanation

Static electricity occurs when there is an imbalance of electrons, leading to a buildup of excess charge. This is caused by the gain or loss of electrons when objects come into contact, making the correct choice the best explanation.

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A child touched a doorknob and experienced a strong shock. What explains in terms of electricity why this child received a noticeable shock?

• She was wearing leather gloves.

• She was wearing clothing made of wool.

• She shuffled her feet across the carpet.

• She walked from the rug to the tile floor.

Answer explanation

The child shuffled her feet across the carpet, generating static electricity. When she touched the doorknob, the built-up charge discharged, causing a noticeable shock.

A positively charged ball is placed an equal distance between two charged objects, Object 1 and Object 2. In which case will the positively charged ball move toward Object 2?

• 
• 
• 
• 

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You have a positively charged glass rod and a negatively charged plastic straw. What will happen if you bring them close to each other?

• They will repel each other.

• They will attract each other.

• Nothing will happen.

• They will both become neutral.

Answer explanation

The positively charged glass rod and negatively charged plastic straw will attract each other due to opposite charges. This attraction occurs because opposite charges exert a force on each other, leading to a pull.

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