Electrostatic Charge and its Transfer

This lab contain two parts: In Part 1, we will study about the electrostatic charges
using a computer program. In Part 2, we will use some instruments provided to
gain a hand on experience about electrostatic charge and charging by induction.

Name:

Partners’ names:

Date: ____________________

Course: ______

Objectives:
1) Understanding how excess charge can be produced on objects and how charges interact
with one another.
2) Developing a basic understanding of electric charge by measuring it quantitatively and
qualitatively on several objects.
3) Understand how charge is transferred between different objects.
4) Seeing how the distribution of charge (density of charge) on various objects depends on their
shapes

Theory:
Matter is composed of atoms which are electrically neutral at its natural state. The electrical
neutrality of the atoms is due to the fact that the amount positive charge (protons) present
nucleus of the atom is compensated by the negative charge of the electrons that orbit around it.
The outermost electron can either be only loosely connected to the rest of the atom or be more
firmly embedded in it depending on the number of electrons present on the atom. Atoms of the
first type tend to part with electrons and move to adjacent atoms, while those of the second type
tend to tear electrons away from adjacent atoms. If an atom loses an electron, then it gets
positively charged and if it gains an electron it becomes negatively charged. It is because of
this phenomenon that, for example glass becomes positively charged when it is rubbed with a
silk cloth, whereas ebonite/plastic acquires a negative charge when it is rubbed with wool.

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Figure 1: A glass rod rubbed with a silk cloth (left). An ebonite rod rubbed with wool/fur (right).

If two suspended balls are given an electric charge of the same sign (e.g., by touching each ball
with a charged glass or ebonite/plastic rod they will be pushed apart by the mutually repellent
force exerted by the similarly charged balls.

On the other hand two oppositely charged balls will attract each other, and when they come into
contact, their charges will neutralize each other. A positive charge means that there is a
deficiency of electrons; a negative charge means that there is a surplus of electrons in relation
to the neutral condition of the atoms. Electrons are the elementary particles of electricity. Each
electron has a charge e = 1.602 x 10-19 Coulomb, a rest mass, m = 9.108x IO-31 kg, and a radius
of 2.82 x 10-13 cm.

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There are two different ways by which an object can be electrically charged.

(a) Charging by contact:

In this method, the object to be charged is bought in a physical contact with pre-charged
material so that the uncharged object gain electrical charged with a polarity same as the pre-
charged material.

(b) Charging by induction:

When a charged conductor is brought near (without touching) an uncharged (neutral) one, a
separation of charges is induced on the latter. If the first conductor has a positive charge, then
the initially neutral conductor will become negatively charged on the side facing the positive
conductor, while the other side will acquire a positive charge of the same magnitude. This
positive charge can be discharged to the earth (ground) as they are free charge, making the
initially neutral conductor negatively charged. This method of charging is known as an
electrostatic induction. Once the ground is disconnected, the negative charge gets distributed
along the surface of the conductor as shown in figure (step ‘A’ through ‘D’) below.

Some electrical Instruments:

Faraday Cage:

A Faraday cage consists of a conductive cylinder mounted on an insulating support, with a large
conductive cylinder placed around it as a shield. It operates on the principle that a charge
placed inside a neutral conducting surface will induce an equal but opposite excess charge on
the inside of that surface and an equal charge of the same sign on the outside. When you
connect the charge sensor/electrometer to the inner cage, and lower a charged object into it, the
meter indicates the amount of charge induced on the cage by measuring the potential difference
between the cage and ground. So we can measure the magnitude of a charge by placing it
deep inside the cage and reading the display.

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Electroscope:
An electroscope is a device that detects and identifies an electric charge. It can also be used to
demonstrate the repulsion property of a like charged particle. This device consists of two
metallic leaves which are light and movable, and are electrically connected by means of an
insulated metal rod and hanger. Since they are electrically connected, they must have the same
electrical charge. The stronger this electric charge, the more the leaves repel, or diverge.

Charged object

Leaves of electroscope diverge because of

electrostatic repulsion

Charge producers:
Two wands with blue and white disks made of dissimilar materials mounted on the insulated
disk. By rubbing the two disks together, we can produce opposite charges on the two disks.

Proof Plane:
This is a wand with a conducting disk at the end. When you touch a proof plane to a charged
object, the proof plane will acquire the same charge as the object. By transferring this charge
from the object to the Faraday Cage and charge sensor/ electrometer, you can determine the
object’s charge distribution.

Equipment required for the lab:

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Plastic and glass rods, bits of paper, string, silk/fur and wool, electroscope, stand, charge sensor,
Faraday cage, charge sensor, proof planes, silver metal spheres, charge producers-blue & white,
and meter stick.

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Lab Procedures:

Note: Factors such as humidity of the air can affect the development and retention of static
charge. You may need to rub the materials you are testing quite vigorously to build an adequate
charge. Also, some electroscopes are more sensitive that others, so do not be disappointed if
you do not see anything striking with your apparatus the first time.
In this Lab you will see how different materials acquire different charges through contact,
friction, and over a distance

Part 1-Electrostatics – Virtual Lab

Please type all of your answers in a color different than Black.

Part 1a-
1. Double click on the “Start Exploration of Physical Science” icon on your taskbar.

Note: to switch between the program and your Word document press “Alt, Tab” or press the
“Windows” key.

2. When the program opens, click on the “Electricity” tab

3. Click on “Static electric charges on a pith ball”

4. Select the “Rubber rod” and start with a negatively charged rubber rod and uncharged pith
ball.

5. Move the rubber rod a small distance towards the pith ball. What do you see? Why?
Answer:

6. As you move the rubber rod closer to the pith ball, what happens?
Answer:

7. What happens when you touch the rubber rod to the pith ball? Can you explain why?
Answer:

8. Now select a “Glass rod” and start with a positively charged glass rod and a negatively
charged pith ball.

9. Move the glass rod a small distance towards the pith ball. What to you observe?
Answer:

10. What happens when you touch the glass rod to the pith ball? Why?
Answer:

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Part 1b- Virtual

11. Click on the “Menus” button on the program:

12. Select “Electric charges and the electroscope”

Knob of
Charged object
electroscope
(metal)
Metal stem

Leaf of
electroscope
Parts of an electroscope Insulator
(metal)

13. Select the “Rubber rod” and start with a negatively charged
rubber rod and uncharged electroscope.

14. Move the rubber rod a small distance towards the electroscope.
What change do you see happening at the knob of the electroscope? Why?
Answer:

What change do you see happening at the leaf of the electroscope? Why?
Answer:

15. What happens when you touch the rubber rod to the knob of the electroscope?
Answer:

16. Now what happens when you take away the rubber rod from the electroscope, does the leaf
stay deflected? Why?
Answer:

17. Now select “Glass rod” and start with a positively charged glass rod and a negatively
charged electroscope.

18. Move the glass rod a small distance towards the pith ball. What do you see happening at the
knob of the electroscope?
Answer:

What do you see happening at the leaf of the electroscope? Why?

Answer:

19. What happens when you touch the glass rod to the knob of the electroscope?

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Answer:

20. Now move the glass rod away and back to its original position. What is the charge on the
glass rod?
Answer:

21. What is the charge on the electroscope knob?

Answer:

22. What is the charge on the electroscope leaf?

Answer:

23. Can you explain the reasons for the charges you see in questions 20 to 22?
Answer:

24. Click on “Restart”

25. What effect does touching the knob of the electroscope have on the charges it holds? Why?
Answer:

26. Click on “Quit”

27. Save your work and submit it as instructed by your instructor.

Part 1c- Physlet Lab-virtual

Balloons and Static Electricity
Open the attached physlet lab attached to this Lab folder:
balloons-en.jar
or go to : http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/balloons
Click “Download “and then Open.

Experiment Procedure:

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 1) Charge the balloon by rubbing it against the sweater. To do this start the simulation
Balloons and static. Click and drag the yellow balloon over to the sweater and rub it up
and down on the sweater. The balloon will pick up negative charges from the sweater.
Confirm that the balloon is charged by dragging it away from the sweater and then
releasing the balloon. The negatively charged balloon will be attracted to the positively
charged sweater. This method of charging objects by transferring charges between
them is called charging by friction or rubbing. Describe the charge distribution on both,
and the direction of the force between them.

2) Charge the wall by bringing the charged yellow balloon near it. The negative charges of
the wall are repelled from the balloon and move away while the positive charges remain
stationary. Have the balloon touch the wall and it will now stay. This method of charging
is known as charging by polarization. It requires polar molecules such as those in the
paint on the wall that are free to move around. Describe the charge distribution for the
wall and the balloon as well as the direction of force.

Conclusion Questions:

Type your answer with a color different than black.

1) What type of charge was transferred from the sweater to the balloon?
Answer:

2) What type of charge did the sweater have at the beginning of the experiment?

Answer:

3) What type of charge did the sweater have at the end of the experiment?

Answer:

4) What type of charge did the edge of the wall have before the experiment?

Answer:

5) What type of charge did the edge of the wall have when the balloon was brought near it?

Answer:

Part 2 –Practical Lab:

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2a- Charging by Friction, Attractive & Repulsive Forces:
Please type all of your answers in a color different than Black.

a). Rub a plastic (polystyrene) rod firmly with a piece of wool; bring it close to some
small bits of paper. What happens?

Do the bits of paper have a charge? If not, why are they attracted to the rod?

b). Hang a plastic straw with some string so that it is horizontal, and rub it with some
wool. Now rub a plastic rod with wool and bring the plastic rod close to the hanging
straw without touching it. What happens? Explain.

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-

c). Now rub a glass rod with some silk/fur to produce a charge. Bring the charged glass
rod close to the hanging straw. What happens? Explain.

Part 2b
Charging by induction:
a) Bring a charged plastic rod close to the knob of an electroscope without touching it.
What do you see?

b). While you are holding the plastic rod near the knob, momentarily touch the knob with
your finger. Now remove the plastic rod. What happens? Explain what type of charge
the electroscope has after removing the plastic rod.

d). Bring a charged glass rod (rubbed with a piece of silk/fur) close to the electroscope.
What happens? Explain why you think the charge on the glass rod must be positive.

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Part 2c:
Charging by Contact:
a) Discharge the electroscope by touching the knob so that the leaves collapse. Rub a
plastic rod with a piece of wool and bring it in contact with the knob of the electroscope
(Touch the knob with the rod). What happens and what type of charge does the now
electroscope have?

b).What happens if you bring a charged glass rod close to the knob? Why do you think
the charge of glass rod should be positive?

Part 2d
Charges and the Faraday Cage:

a) Connect a PASCO charge sensor to the Pasco 850 interface in Port A. Open the
“Faraday Cage” program. Connect the charge sensor leads to the Faraday Cage
(black lead to the outer cage and the red lead to the inner cage). Zero the charge
sensor. Adjust the “Gain” of the charge sensor to 20. A screen as shown below
will appear in the computer. The top half of the screen is the graph that shows
the variation of charge with time. The lower right half of the screen displays the
value of the charged stored. We will be recording this value to study the nature of
the charge produced.

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 Record Button

READ up to section (d), understand the procedure, then only do it. You
need to do this step as quickly as possible to prevent loss of charge into
the atmosphere.

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Bring two conducting metal spheres in contact with each other (so that they touch each
other). Hold a charged plastic rod near one sphere and while you are still holding the
plastic rod close, take the second sphere away from the first one by holding it at the
base.

Metal (conductor)

Non-conducting base

What type of charge do you think might be on the on the second sphere?

b) Touch the sphere with a metal proof plane by sliding it gently over the surface,
and then place the proof plane inside the inner cylinder of the Faraday cage,
without touching it. A charge is induced on the inside cylinder. You will be able to
read the nature of this charge on the computer display. Click “Record” in program
to record the value of the charge. The program automatically stops after 5
seconds.

Record the charge and the polarity (positive or negative). Using the polarity, explain
what type of charge was on the second sphere (the one you moved away).

c) Rub the white and blue proof planes together. Zero the charge sensor. Bring the
white proof plane into the inner Faraday cage and record the magnitude and polarity of
the charge.

d) Bring the blue proof plane into the inner Faraday cage and record the magnitude and
polarity of the charge:

e) How are the charges you read on the white and blue proof planes related to each
other?

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Answers to questions:
1. Explain why a charged rubber/plastic rod picks up bits of paper even though the
paper is neutral?

2. Why do certain clothes stick together when you remove them from a clothes dryer?
How can you avoid this problem?

3. How does the act of grounding remove excess charge from an object?

4. Why does your hair stand up when you comb it with a plastic comb on a dry day?

5. In the early days of the internal combustion engine there were a few disastrous
gasoline-delivery truck explosions. These and most other trucks were then equipped
with metal chains that dragged on the road. You still see them today. What is the
purpose of these chains?

Conclusions: (Please write how your observations compare to theory; try to give some
explanations if you saw unexpected results).

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