Practise Static charge. 11 exam-style questions on this subtopic, at up to four difficulty levels, with full mark schemes and a progress tracker. Free, no account needed.
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What type of charge does the cloth have after it has been rubbed?
Positive
After rubbing, the student's hairs move apart from each other. Explain why.
Each hair has the same type of charge (positive), and like charges repel.
Complete the sentence. Two objects with the same type of charge .................... each other.
repel
Sample questions
Written for this site in the style of AQA exam questions. They are not taken from real past papers.
Question 1Easy4 marks
A student rubs a polythene rod with a woollen cloth. The rod becomes negatively charged.
(a) Which particles are transferred when the rod is rubbed with the cloth? Tick (✓) one box.[1]
atoms
electrons
neutrons
protons
(b) In which direction are the particles transferred? Tick (✓) one box.[1]
from the cloth to the rod
from the rod to the cloth
(c) What type of charge does the cloth have after it has been rubbed?[1]
(d) The student brings a second negatively charged polythene rod close to the first rod. The rods do not touch. What happens? Tick (✓) one box.[1]
The rods attract each other.
The rods repel each other.
Nothing happens.
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: electrons
(b)Answer: from the cloth to the rod
(c)Answer: Positive
positive
(d)Answer: The rods repel each other.
Question 2Medium7 marks
A student rubs a balloon on their hair. The balloon becomes negatively charged.
(a) Explain how the balloon becomes negatively charged.[2]
(b) Explain why the student's hair is attracted to the balloon.[2]
(c) After rubbing, the student's hairs move apart from each other. Explain why.[2]
(d) The force between the balloon and the hair is a non-contact force. What is meant by a non-contact force?[1]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: Rubbing transfers electrons from the hair to the balloon; the balloon gains electrons, so it has a negative charge.
electrons are transferred / rubbed off (the hair) onto the balloon
the balloon gains electrons (which are negative)
(b)Answer: The hair has lost electrons so it has a positive charge; opposite (unlike) charges attract.
the hair has lost electrons so is positively charged
opposite / unlike charges attract
(c)Answer: Each hair has the same type of charge (positive), and like charges repel.
each hair has the same type of charge (positive)
like charges repel
(d)Answer: A force that acts between objects that are not touching.
a force that acts between objects that are not touching / physically separated
Question 3Hard6 marks
When an aircraft is refuelled, fuel flows quickly through a rubber pipe. Friction between the fuel and the pipe can cause the aircraft to become charged.
(a) Explain, in terms of electrons, why the fuel and the pipe become oppositely charged.[2]
(b) Explain why a build-up of charge on the aircraft could be dangerous.[2]
(c) Before refuelling, the aircraft is connected to the ground by a metal cable. Explain how this prevents the danger.[2]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: Friction transfers electrons from one material to the other; the material that gains electrons becomes negative and the one that loses electrons is left with an equal positive charge.
electrons are transferred from one material to the other (by friction)
the one that gains electrons becomes negative and the one that loses electrons becomes (equally) positive
(b)Answer: The potential difference between the aircraft and the ground could become large enough for a spark to jump; the spark could ignite the fuel vapour and cause an explosion or fire.
a (large) potential difference builds up so a spark could jump / sparking could occur
the spark could ignite the fuel (vapour) causing a fire / explosion
(c)Answer: Metal is a conductor, so electrons can flow along the cable between the aircraft and the ground; charge does not build up, so no spark occurs.
electrons can flow through the (conducting) cable to / from the ground
so charge cannot build up (on the aircraft) and no spark is produced