Define charging by friction .

Charging by friction is when two insulating materials are rubbed together and electrons are transferred from one to the other, leaving one positively charged and the other negatively charged.

When a polythene rod is rubbed with a cloth and loses electrons, what charge does the rod become?

The rod becomes positively charged, since it has lost negatively charged electrons .

Explain why an object becomes negatively charged.

An object becomes negatively charged when it gains electrons , giving it an overall surplus of negative charge.

All objects are initially electrically ______ , meaning negative and positive charges are evenly distributed.

All objects are initially electrically neutral , meaning negative and positive charges are evenly distributed.

What type of charge do electrons, protons and neutrons each carry?

Electrons are negatively charged, protons are positively charged and neutrons are neutral (no charge).

State whether two objects with the same charge attract or repel, and whether two objects with opposite charges attract or repel.

Objects with the same charge repel each other. Objects with opposite charges attract each other.

True or False? Attraction and repulsion between charged objects are examples of a contact force.

False. Attraction and repulsion are examples of a non-contact force , as the force acts on the objects without them physically touching.

Earthing is the process of removing excess charge from an object via the movement of electrons , by connecting the object to the Earth using a conductor .

Explain how lightning is produced during a storm.

Clouds moving over each other become charged as electrons are transferred between them, making the base of the cloud negatively charged. This induces a positive charge on the ground below. When the electric field becomes strong enough, negative charges jump from the cloud to the ground, creating a giant spark .

Explain why a balloon rubbed on a woolly jumper sticks to a neutral wall.

The balloon gains electrons by friction and becomes negatively charged. Its negative charge repels electrons in the wall, leaving the near surface of the wall positively charged, so the balloon is attracted to the wall.

A static electric spark occurs when two objects are charged by friction, become oppositely charged, and a surplus of ______ 'jumps' across to a neutral object.

A static electric spark occurs when two objects are charged by friction, become oppositely charged, and a surplus of electrons 'jumps' across to a neutral object.

Describe how electrons move when a positively charged object is earthed.

Electrons are attracted up through the conductor towards the positive charge, cancelling out the net positive charge, since opposite charges attract .

Describe how electrons move when a negatively charged object is earthed.

Electrons travel down the conductor, away from the object, since like charges repel .

True or False? When explaining a charging effect, it is acceptable to say charge is transferred rather than naming electrons specifically.

False. Exam answers must refer to the transfer of electrons ; saying 'charge' is too vague and will not gain full marks.

Explain how a photocopier uses static electricity to copy a document.

An image of the document is projected onto a positively charged plate, which loses charge in the light areas but keeps its positive charge in the dark (text) areas. Negatively charged toner powder sticks to the positive areas and is transferred to paper.

Explain how giving insecticide droplets an electrostatic charge helps them cover crops effectively.

The droplets are given the same charge, so they repel each other, keeping the spray as a fine mist over a large area. They are also attracted to the negative charges on Earth, so they fall quickly and are less likely to blow away.

Define the bonding line used when refuelling an aeroplane.

The bonding line is a copper wire connecting the fuel tank to the Earth, which carries away the charge built up by friction between the fuel and pipe, removing the risk of a spark.

Give two dangers caused by a build-up of static electricity.

The risk of electrocution (e.g. from lightning) and the risk of fire or explosion from a spark near a flammable gas or liquid.

Explain why a build-up of static charge is dangerous when refuelling a car.

Friction between the flammable fuel and the pipe causes the fuel to gain charge . If this charge caused a spark , the fuel could ignite and cause an explosion.

Earthing is used to prevent the dangerous build-up of charge by connecting an object to the Earth with a ______ .

Earthing is used to prevent the dangerous build-up of charge by connecting an object to the Earth with a conductor .

True or False? Insecticide sprayers charge droplets with opposite charges so they attract each other and form larger drops.

False. Droplets are given the same charge so they repel each other, keeping the spray fine and spread over a large area.

Define an electric field .

An electric field is a region where an electric charge experiences a force .

How does the strength of an electric field affect the force felt by a charge placed within it?

The force is stronger as the distance between the charged objects decreases , and weaker as the distance increases .

In which direction do electric field lines point?

Field lines always point away from positive charges and towards negative charges.

Describe the shape of electric field lines around a point charge.

Field lines around a point charge are spherical (radial), spreading outward in all directions from the charge.

Describe the electric field between two parallel plates.

The field between two parallel plates is a uniform electric field, with field lines directed from the positive to the negative plate, and drawn parallel and straight .

A stronger electric field is represented by field lines drawn ______ together, while a weaker field is shown by field lines further apart.

A stronger electric field is represented by field lines drawn closer together, while a weaker field is shown by field lines further apart.

True or False? A charged object placed in an electric field always experiences an attractive force, regardless of the charges involved.

False. The force can be attractive or repulsive depending on the charges involved: opposite charges attract, and like charges repel.

Explain why the force between two charged objects is described as a non-contact force.

It is a non-contact force because the charged objects do not touch for the force to be exerted between them.

How does the electric field help to explain the force between charged objects?

The electric field cannot be seen , but it can be detected by another charged object, which moves within the field due to the electric force acting on it.

Explain how a spark can form between a charged person and a conductor.

If the electric field becomes strong enough , the charge is forced through an insulator such as air , creating a spark , for example when a charged person touches a conductor.

When a spark occurs, the charged particles travel towards the area with the ______ charge.

When a spark occurs, the charged particles travel towards the area with the opposite charge.

True or False? A spark can only form if the charged objects are touching each other.

False. A spark forms when the field is strong enough to force charge through an insulator such as air, even though the objects do not touch .

GCSEPhysicsEdexcelFlashcards11. Static ElectricityStatic Electricity

Static Electricity (Edexcel GCSE Physics): Flashcards

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Define charging by friction.

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Cards in this collection (33)

Define charging by friction.
Charging by friction is when two insulating materials are rubbed together and electrons are transferred from one to the other, leaving one positively charged and the other negatively charged.
When a polythene rod is rubbed with a cloth and loses electrons, what charge does the rod become?
The rod becomes positively charged, since it has lost negatively charged electrons.
Explain why an object becomes negatively charged.
An object becomes negatively charged when it gains electrons, giving it an overall surplus of negative charge.
All objects are initially electrically ______, meaning negative and positive charges are evenly distributed.
All objects are initially electrically neutral, meaning negative and positive charges are evenly distributed.
What type of charge do electrons, protons and neutrons each carry?
Electrons are negatively charged, protons are positively charged and neutrons are neutral (no charge).
State whether two objects with the same charge attract or repel, and whether two objects with opposite charges attract or repel.
Objects with the same charge repel each other. Objects with opposite charges attract each other.
True or False?
Attraction and repulsion between charged objects are examples of a contact force.
False.
Attraction and repulsion are examples of a non-contact force, as the force acts on the objects without them physically touching.
Define earthing.
Earthing is the process of removing excess charge from an object via the movement of electrons, by connecting the object to the Earth using a conductor.
Explain how lightning is produced during a storm.
Clouds moving over each other become charged as electrons are transferred between them, making the base of the cloud negatively charged. This induces a positive charge on the ground below. When the electric field becomes strong enough, negative charges jump from the cloud to the ground, creating a giant spark.
Explain why a balloon rubbed on a woolly jumper sticks to a neutral wall.
The balloon gains electrons by friction and becomes negatively charged. Its negative charge repels electrons in the wall, leaving the near surface of the wall positively charged, so the balloon is attracted to the wall.
A static electric spark occurs when two objects are charged by friction, become oppositely charged, and a surplus of ______ 'jumps' across to a neutral object.
A static electric spark occurs when two objects are charged by friction, become oppositely charged, and a surplus of electrons 'jumps' across to a neutral object.
Describe how electrons move when a positively charged object is earthed.
Electrons are attracted up through the conductor towards the positive charge, cancelling out the net positive charge, since opposite charges attract.
Describe how electrons move when a negatively charged object is earthed.
Electrons travel down the conductor, away from the object, since like charges repel.
True or False?
When explaining a charging effect, it is acceptable to say charge is transferred rather than naming electrons specifically.
False.
Exam answers must refer to the transfer of electrons; saying 'charge' is too vague and will not gain full marks.
Explain how a photocopier uses static electricity to copy a document.
An image of the document is projected onto a positively charged plate, which loses charge in the light areas but keeps its positive charge in the dark (text) areas. Negatively charged toner powder sticks to the positive areas and is transferred to paper.
Explain how giving insecticide droplets an electrostatic charge helps them cover crops effectively.
The droplets are given the same charge, so they repel each other, keeping the spray as a fine mist over a large area. They are also attracted to the negative charges on Earth, so they fall quickly and are less likely to blow away.
Define the bonding line used when refuelling an aeroplane.
The bonding line is a copper wire connecting the fuel tank to the Earth, which carries away the charge built up by friction between the fuel and pipe, removing the risk of a spark.
Give two dangers caused by a build-up of static electricity.
The risk of electrocution (e.g. from lightning) and the risk of fire or explosion from a spark near a flammable gas or liquid.
Explain why a build-up of static charge is dangerous when refuelling a car.
Friction between the flammable fuel and the pipe causes the fuel to gain charge. If this charge caused a spark, the fuel could ignite and cause an explosion.
Earthing is used to prevent the dangerous build-up of charge by connecting an object to the Earth with a ______.
Earthing is used to prevent the dangerous build-up of charge by connecting an object to the Earth with a conductor.
True or False?
Insecticide sprayers charge droplets with opposite charges so they attract each other and form larger drops.
False.
Droplets are given the same charge so they repel each other, keeping the spray fine and spread over a large area.
Define an electric field.
An electric field is a region where an electric charge experiences a force.
How does the strength of an electric field affect the force felt by a charge placed within it?
The force is stronger as the distance between the charged objects decreases, and weaker as the distance increases.
In which direction do electric field lines point?
Field lines always point away from positive charges and towards negative charges.
Describe the shape of electric field lines around a point charge.
Field lines around a point charge are spherical (radial), spreading outward in all directions from the charge.
Describe the electric field between two parallel plates.
The field between two parallel plates is a uniform electric field, with field lines directed from the positive to the negative plate, and drawn parallel and straight.
A stronger electric field is represented by field lines drawn ______ together, while a weaker field is shown by field lines further apart.
A stronger electric field is represented by field lines drawn closer together, while a weaker field is shown by field lines further apart.
True or False?
A charged object placed in an electric field always experiences an attractive force, regardless of the charges involved.
False.
The force can be attractive or repulsive depending on the charges involved: opposite charges attract, and like charges repel.
Explain why the force between two charged objects is described as a non-contact force.
It is a non-contact force because the charged objects do not touch for the force to be exerted between them.
How does the electric field help to explain the force between charged objects?
The electric field cannot be seen, but it can be detected by another charged object, which moves within the field due to the electric force acting on it.
Explain how a spark can form between a charged person and a conductor.
If the electric field becomes strong enough, the charge is forced through an insulator such as air, creating a spark, for example when a charged person touches a conductor.
When a spark occurs, the charged particles travel towards the area with the ______ charge.
When a spark occurs, the charged particles travel towards the area with the opposite charge.
True or False?
A spark can only form if the charged objects are touching each other.
False.
A spark forms when the field is strong enough to force charge through an insulator such as air, even though the objects do not touch.

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