Challenge yourself with these 10 puzzles on static electricity and related concepts!
Puzzle 1: What happens when a glass rod is rubbed with silk?
Hint: Focus on electron transfer between materials.
Answer: The glass rod loses electrons and becomes positively charged, while the silk gains electrons and becomes negatively charged.
Puzzle 2: What charge does an ebonite rod acquire when rubbed with fur?
Hint: Which material attracts electrons more strongly?
Answer: The ebonite rod gains electrons and becomes negatively charged, while the fur becomes positively charged.
Puzzle 3: What happens to the leaves of a gold leaf electroscope when a charged object is brought near?
Hint: Think about how like charges interact.
Answer: The leaves diverge because like charges repel.
Puzzle 4: Why does rubbing objects transfer charge?
Hint: Consider electron movement between materials.
Answer: Rubbing objects allows electrons to move from one material to another, depending on their electron affinity.
Puzzle 5: How can you use a gold leaf electroscope to identify the type of charge?
Hint: Compare the reaction with a known charge.
Answer: Bring a charged object near the electroscope. If the divergence increases, the charge is the same as the object used for charging; if it decreases, the charge is opposite.
Puzzle 6: What is the charge on silk after rubbing it with glass?
Hint: Which material gains electrons?
Answer: Silk becomes negatively charged because it gains electrons from the glass rod.
Puzzle 7: Why do ebonite rods attract small pieces of paper after being rubbed with fur?
Hint: Think about induced charges.
Answer: The ebonite rod induces a charge on the paper, causing attraction due to opposite charges.
Puzzle 8: How can a charged rod be discharged safely?
Hint: Consider grounding.
Answer: A charged rod can be discharged by connecting it to the ground, allowing excess charge to flow away.
Puzzle 9: What happens to the charge on a glass rod if touched by hand?
Hint: Think about grounding effects.
Answer: The charge on the glass rod dissipates as it is transferred to the ground through the hand.
Puzzle 10: Why do like charges repel?
Hint: Consider the electric force.
Answer: Like charges repel due to the repulsive electric force between them.
