Example Questions

Question 1

A rod is rubbed with a cloth, how can the rod become positively charged:

Answer 1

Electrons are removed by friction from the rod and are transferred to the cloth.

The charge on the cloth now has an equal and opposite negative charge to the rod.

Question 2

Explain why a wire connected to a fuel pipe and to the ground greatly reduces the chance of a spark:

Answer 2

Charge flows through the metal wire to the ground which prevents the build up of charge. This is called earthing.