Electrostatic Exercise

1. Which statement is not true about static charges?

A there is an electric field around a charge
B unlike charges repel
C there are two types of static charges
D static charges on an object can be produced by friction

2. The diagram shows a positively charged rod placed between small metal spheres, Z and Y.
Each sphere is suspended with an insulator.

Sphere X moves towards the rod and sphere Y moves away from the rod.
What are the likely charges of the sphere?

X Y
A neutral negative
B neutral positive
C negative neutral
D positive neutral

3. Which diagram shows the correct distribution of charges when a charged rod is placed near an
insulated metal sphere?
4. Which diagram shows the electric field pattern near a small negative charge?

5. Which pattern correctly shows the electric field lines between isolated charges?
B

6. Which of the following materials can be charged by rubbing with a cloth?

A steel spoon
B plastic pen
C copper rod
D aluminium foil

7. When a polythene rod is rubbed with wool, the rod becomes negatively charged.

A charged polythene rod is placed next to water running from a tap.

The water bends towards the rod.

Which statement why the water bends towards the rod?

A the rod induces positive charges on the water

B the water induces positive charges on the rod
C the rod induces negative charges on the water
D the water induces negative charges on the rod
8. Which diagram shows the correct distribution of charges in an insulated sphere when a charged
rod is brought near it?

9. The list shows the stages of charging a suspended metallic sphere by induction.
The stages are not in the correct order.
(i) touch the sphere with a finger for a short period of time and remove the finger
(ii) place a charged rod next to the sphere
(iii) remove the rod

What is the correct order of the stages?

A (ii), (i), (iii)

B (iii), (i), (ii)

C (ii), (iii), (i)

D (iii), (ii), (i)

10. What is the function of a lightning conductor?

A it prevents thunder
B it repels lightning
C it provides a path for charge
D it stores charge
11. The diagram shows two neutral metal spheres, E and F, placed on insulated stands.
The spheres are touching each other.
A charged rod is brought close to spheres E and the spheres are separated with the rod still in
place.

Which diagram shows the charges in the spheres after they have been separated?

12. The diagram shows a large metal sphere, K. which is positively charged. Sphere K is placed next
to a small metal sphere, L, which is neutral and suspended by a thread.

Sphere K is moved slightly towards sphere L. Sphere L moves towards sphere K until it touches
its body. Sphere L then moves away from sphere K.

Which statement explains why sphere L moves away from sphere K?

A sphere L has been neutralised
B sphere L was left with positive charges
C sphere K has transferred positive charges to sphere L
D sphere K has induced positive charges on sphere L
13. The diagram shows a neutral metal sphere supported by an insulating stand.
The sphere is connected to the Earth through a galvanometer.

When a positively charged rod is placed at point P, the galvanometer needle deflects.
What caused the deflection of the needle?

A electrons moving from the Earth to the sphere

B electrons moving from the sphere to the Earth

C positive charges moving from the Earth to the sphere

D positive charges moving from the sphere to the Earth

14. The diagram shows a negatively charged above a lightning conductor.

Which statement describes how lightning conductor discharges the cloud during a lightning
strike?
A negative charges flow through air to the conductor
B positive charges flow through air to the conductor
C negative charges flow through air to the cloud
D positive charges flow through air to the cloud
15. Which diagram shows the correct flow of charge when the charged sphere is earthed?

16. The diagram shows a positively charged sphere on an insulating stand.

An earth wire is connected to the sphere.

Why is the sphere neutralised when the switch is closed?

A positive charges moves from the sphere to the earth

B positive charges moves from the earth to the sphere
C negative charges moves from the sphere to the earth
B negative charges moves from the earth to the sphere
17. (a) Fig.13.1 shows the charge on a balloon after it has been rubbed with a woolen cloth.

Fig.13.1
(i) Explain why the balloon becomes negatively charged.
gained negative charges from the cloth
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

(ii) Explain why the balloon is attracted to the woolen cloth.

baloon is negatively charged while woolen cloth is positively charged therefore unlike
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1] charges
attract
(b) Fig.13.2 shows a plastic rod brought near the metal cap of a positively charged gold-leaf

electroscope. The divergence of the leaf increases.

Fig.13.2

(i) Name the charge on the plastic rod.

positive
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]
(ii) The plastic rod is removed and the cap of the electroscope is touched with a finger.
State and explain what will be observed.

leaf converge or bend towards the metal rod or falls towards metal rod
Observation: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
attraction of unlike charges
Explanation: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….… [2]
18. A copper rod and perspex rod are each rubbed with a cloth. The perspex rod becomes positively
charged and the copper rod remains uncharged.
(a) Explain why copper cannot be charged by rubbing.

metals are good conductors and have free moving electrons

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. [1]

(b) State what happens during rubbing of the perspex that makes it to be charged.

losses negative charges to the cloth

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. [1]
(c) Fig.14.1 shows the charged perspex rod placed close to a suspended polythene sphere.

Fig.14.1
State and explain what will be observed.
polystyrene sphere move towards the perspex rod
Observation …………….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

attraction of unlike charges

Explanation ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. [2]

(d) The sphere touches the perspex rod and is then repelled by the rod.
Explain why the sphere is repelled.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
polystyrene was left with positive charges, and like charges repel
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. [2]
19. Fig.15.1 shows two houses which have lightning conductors.
In house A, the rod is attached to the roof while in house B the rod is attached to a metal plate
buried underground.

---

Fig.15.1
(a) Name a suitable metal which could be used to make the rod.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
copper [1]

(b) Explain why house A is likely to be damaged by lightning.

the rod conducts negative charges to the roof
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. [1]

(c) In a storm the spikes have a positive charge as shown.

On Fig.15.1 indicate the sign and location of the charge on the cloud above the spikes. [2]

20. Fig.20.1 shows a negatively charged cloud passing overhead.

+++++++++++++++++++
Fig.20.1
The charged cloud induces a charge on the ground.
On Fig.16.1 draw
(i) the induced charge on the ground.

(ii) the electric field. [3]

21. Fig.20.1 shows a negatively charged cloud passing overhead.

+++++++++++++++++

Fig.20.1
(a) On Fig.16.1 draw
(i) the induced charge on the ground.
(ii) the electric field. [3]

(b) A bolt of lightning strikes the ground.

State the term used to describe this balancing out of charges.
discharging
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. [1]

22. (a) Fig.21.1 shows two identical, neutral metal spheres A and B suspended with insulating
thread.
The spheres are touching each other. A positively charged rod is brought near sphere A.

- + - +
- + - +
- + - +

Fig.21.1

On Fig.21.1 draw the distribution of charges on spheres A and B. [2]

 (b) Fig.21.2 shows another charged sphere.

Fig.21.2

State and explain how the sphere could be discharged.

touching with a finger

Statement………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

negatives charges from ground will move through the finger towards the sphere
Explanation……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………….. [3]

23. An uncharged nail is placed on an insulator and a negatively charged rod is brought close to the
nail as shown in Fig.23.1.

_
+ _
+ _
+

Fig.23.1

(a) On Fig.23.1 draw the distribution of charges on nail. [2]

(b) A very light ball coated with metal and freely hanging from an insulating thread is brought
near the tip of the nail as shown in Fig.23.2. The ball contains some charge.

Fig.23.2
Explain why the ball moves away as shown in Fig.22.2.

ball and nail both have negative charges repulsion of like charges
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…..…. [2]

(c) (i) State what happens to the charges in the nail when the tip of nail is touched with a finger.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…..…. [2]

(ii) Describe the charge distribution in the nail when first the finger and then charged rod are
removed.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
negative charges from the nail flows through the finger to the ground

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…..…. [2]
24. Fig. 24.1 shows a plastic rod AB after being rubbed with a cloth. The rod becomes negatively
charged.

Fig. 24.1

(a) Use the words below to complete the sentences.

Positively, negatively, poor, good, gains, loses

loses positively
(i) The cloth…………………………… negative charges and become ……………………charged.
(ii) gains
The rod …………………………… negative charges and becomes negatively charged.
(iii) The plastic rod retains the negative charges at the end B because the rod is a
poor
…………………………… conductor of electricity. [4]

(b) Rod AB hangs freely with a thread. Fig.24.2 shows another rod R being brought near AB.
End B start to move away.

Fig.24.2

(i) State the type of charge n rod R.

negative
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

(ii) Explain your answer.

repulsion of like charges
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]
 (c) Fig. 24.3 shows two parallel plates with opposite charges.

Fig. 24.3

On Fig. 3.3 draw the field lines between the plates. [2]

25. Tebza hangs a small light ball suspended by a nylon thread.

The ball has a coating of metal and is initially uncharged.

A negatively-charged rod is brought near the ball, as shown in Fig. 25.1.

-+

Fig. 25.1

(a) On Fig. 25.1 draw the charges on the ball caused by the negatively-charged rod. [2]

(b) Explain why the ball is attracted to the rod.

attraction of unlike charges
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

(c) The ball is touched briefly with an earthed wire. When the charged rod is removed, the ball is
found to be positively charged.
In terms of movement of the negative charges, explain why the ball is left with a positive
charge.
negative charges from the rod move to the ground through the earth wire
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. [2]