Electrostatics and Electric Charges Quiz

Hey there, future physicists! Let's spark up a discussion about electric charge! Which of the following statements is true about electric charge?

• Electric charges are created and destroyed in every interaction, just like magic tricks!

• Charges are conserved in an isolated system, like James keeping his favorite toy safe!

• Only positive charges are conserved, as Priya believes in only good vibes!

• Charge cannot be transferred between objects, like William not sharing his snacks!

Answer explanation

The correct statement is that charges are conserved in an isolated system. This means that the total electric charge remains constant, even though charges can be transferred between objects.

Imagine Benjamin and Isla are conducting a fun experiment with an ebonite rod and a piece of silk. When they rub the ebonite rod with the silk, what do you think happens?

• The ebonite rod becomes positively charged, and the silk becomes negatively charged.

• The ebonite rod becomes negatively charged, and the silk becomes positively charged.

• Both the ebonite rod and silk become negatively charged.

• Both the ebonite rod and silk become positively charged.

Answer explanation

When an ebonite rod is rubbed with silk, electrons are transferred from the silk to the ebonite rod. This results in the ebonite rod becoming negatively charged and the silk becoming positively charged.

Hey there, William! Imagine you have two magical charges: one is a friendly +4 μC and the other is a mischievous -2 μC. If they decide to come together for a fun party, what will be their total charge?

• +2 μC

• -2 μC

• +6 μC

• 0 μC

Answer explanation

To find the total charge, add the two charges: +4 μC + (-2 μC) = +2 μC. Thus, the total charge when the two charges are brought together is +2 μC.

One sunny afternoon, Aiden and Abigail were experimenting with static electricity. Aiden took a glass rod and rubbed it vigorously with a silk cloth. To their surprise, the glass rod became positively charged! What do you think happened to the silk cloth?

• It remains neutral.

• It becomes negatively charged.

• It becomes positively charged.

• It acquires a positive charge equal to that of the rod.

Answer explanation

When the glass rod is rubbed with silk, it loses electrons and becomes positively charged. The silk cloth gains these electrons, resulting in a negative charge. Therefore, the silk cloth becomes negatively charged.

Hey there, science explorers! 🌟 Anika, Priya, and Daniel are conducting a fun experiment with silk. Can you guess which of the following materials, when rubbed with silk, will magically acquire a negative charge?

• Glass

• Ebonite

• Wood

• Cotton

Answer explanation

Ebonite, when rubbed with silk, gains electrons and thus acquires a negative charge. In contrast, materials like glass, wood, and cotton do not exhibit this behavior when rubbed with silk.

Imagine Zoe is playing with a charged balloon and brings it close to Liam's neutral toy. Suddenly, the toy seems to react! What phenomenon is happening here as the charge distribution in Liam's toy gets altered?

• Conduction

• Induction

• Charging by rubbing

• Coulomb’s law

Answer explanation

When a neutral object is brought near a charged body, the charge distribution within the neutral object shifts, creating a temporary separation of charges. This process is known as induction.

Hey there, science enthusiasts! Can you help Nora figure out the charge on a single electron? Is it:

• 1.6×10−19 C1.6 \times 10^{-19} \, C

• 3.2×10−19 C3.2 \times 10^{-19} \, C

• 1.0×10−19 C1.0 \times 10^{-19} \, C

• 1.6×10−18 C1.6 \times 10^{-18} \, C

Answer explanation

The charge on a single electron is a fundamental constant in physics, known to be approximately -1.6×10−19 C. Therefore, the correct answer is 1.6×10−19 C.

Imagine Nora and Sophia are conducting a fun science experiment. When Nora touches a charged balloon to a neutral metal spoon, the spoon suddenly acquires a charge! What is this exciting phenomenon called?

• Charging by induction

• Charging by conduction

• Charging by friction

• Electromagnetic induction

Answer explanation

When a charged body touches a neutral body, electrons transfer, causing the neutral body to acquire a charge. This process is known as charging by conduction, as it involves direct contact and transfer of charge.

Hey there, science explorers! Imagine Liam and Charlotte are on a mission to uncover the secrets of electric charges. They discover that the total charge on their system is simply the sum of all the individual charges they collected. This exciting finding illustrates which amazing property of charge?

• Quantization

• Additive property

• Conservation of charge

• Coulomb’s law

Answer explanation

The total charge on a system being the sum of individual charges illustrates the additive property of charge, which states that charges combine algebraically to give the total charge.

Hey there, science explorers! 🌟 What do you think happens to the electric field of a charged conductor when our friend Kai decides to ground it? 🤔

• The electric field increases, like a balloon getting more air!

• The electric field becomes zero, just like a calm lake.

• The electric field remains the same, like a steady breeze.

• The electric field becomes weak but non-zero, like a gentle whisper.

Answer explanation

When a charged conductor is grounded, it allows charge to flow to the ground, neutralizing the excess charge. This results in the electric field around the conductor becoming zero, as there is no longer a charge to create an electric field.