Physics Electrostatics

A neutral metal sphere is touched by a negatively charged metal rod. As a result, the sphere will be ____ and the metal rod will be ____.

positively charged, positively charged

Electron Affinity

the neutral atom's likelihood of gaining an electron

During a physics lab, a plastic strip was rubbed with cotton and became positively charged. The correct explanation for why the plastic strip becomes positively charged is that ...

the plastic strip lost electrons to the cotton during the charging process

A physics teacher rubs a glass object and a felt cloth together and the glass becomes positively charged. What happens?

- The felt became charged negatively during this rubbing process. - Once charged in this manner, the glass object and the felt cloth should attract each other. - If the glass acquired a charge of +5 units, then the felt acquires a charge of -5 units.

A metal sphere is electrically neutral. It is touched by a positively charged metal rod. As a result, the metal sphere becomes charged positively. What happens?

- The overall charge of the system is conserved - Electrons are transferred from the sphere to rod - The metal sphere loses electrons

A conductor differs from an insulator in that a conductor____

allows electrons to move freely while an insulator does not

A neutral metal sphere is touched by a negatively charged metal rod. During the process, electrons are transferred from the _____ to the _____ and the sphere acquires a _____ charge.

charged rod, neutral sphere, negative

A positively charged balloon is brought near a neutral conducting sphere. While the balloon is near, the sphere is touched (grounded). At this point, there is a movement of electrons. Electrons move ____ .

electrons move into the sphere from the ground (hand)

Suppose that a conducting sphere is charged positively by some method. The charge is initially deposited on the left side of the sphere. Yet because the object is conductive, the charge spreads uniformly throughout the surface of the sphere. The uniform distribution of charge is explained by the fact that ____.

excess electrons from the rest of the sphere are attracted towards the excess protons

TRUE OR FALSE: When an object becomes polarized, it acquires a charge and becomes a charged object.

false

A positively charged balloon is brought near a neutral conducting sphere. While the balloon is near, the sphere is touched (grounded). If the hand is removed before the balloon, the sphere would have a _________ charge

negative charge