Instructions: read the summary, play the game and take the test!

Game:

Static electricity

Some insulating materials become electrically charged when they are rubbed together. Charges that are the same repel, while unlike charges attract.

Attraction and repulsion

You should know how and whyinsulatorscan be electrically charged.

Moving charges

When you rub two different insulating materials against each other they become electrically charged. This only works for insulated objects. Electrical charges move easily to earth through conductors such as metals.

When the materials are rubbed against each other:

  • Negatively charged particles calledelectronsmove from one material to the other
  • The material that loses electrons becomes positively charged
  • The material that gains electrons becomes negatively charged
  • Both materials gain an equal amount of charge, but the charges are opposite

Detecting charge

Two charged objects willrepeleach other if they have the same type of charge (they areboth positive or both negative). Two charged objects will attract each other if they have opposite charges. You can check this by clicking on the sentences in the diagram:

The only way to tell if an object is charged is to see if it repels another charged object. This is because charged objects will also attract small uncharged objects. You can check this by clicking on the third sentence in the diagram.

Static electricity - Test

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1.When plastic is charged by rubbing it with a cloth:

a) It can repel small pieces of paper

b) It can attract small pieces of paper

c) It does nothing when brought near small pieces of paper

2.A PC monitor is usually covered in dust because:

a) The room needs cleaning

b) The dust is attracted by magnets in the monitor

c) The dust is attracted by static charges on the monitor

3.A piece of copper does not get charged when rubbed with a cloth because:

a)Copper is an insulator

b)Copper is a conductor

c)Copper is a solid

4.When a piece of plastic becomes positively charged it has:

a) Gained protons

b) Gained electrons

c) Lost electrons

5.When a piece of plastic becomes negatively charged it has:

a)Gained electrons

b)Lost electrons

c)Lost protons

6.When two polythene rods with the same charge are brought near each other they:

a)Repel

b)Attract

c)Point north

7.If two objects attract each other, which is NOT a possible explanation?

a)One must be negatively charged while the other is positively charged

b)One must be charged while the other is uncharged

c)They must have the same charge

8.When you walk across a nylon carpet, you become negatively charged. When you then touch a metal handle you receive a shock because:

a)Electrons jump from you to the handle

b)Protons jump from you to the handle

c)Electrons jump from the handle to you

9.When refuelling an aeroplane, to avoid a spark caused by a build-up of static charge:

a)The fuel is poured in slowly

b)The refuelling tanker and the aeroplane are both earthed.

c)The aeroplane has insulating rubber tyres

10.Atoms that have become charged are:

a)Ions

b)Molecules

c)Electrons

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