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Static Electricity Question Paper

The document describes an experiment involving charging balloons through friction. It asks questions about the behavior and interactions of charged balloons. In part (a), two identically charged balloons repel each other because like charges repel. In part (b), a balloon becomes negatively charged when rubbed with a cloth, gaining electrons from the cloth. When the charged balloon touches a metal cabinet, the charge is conducted away and the balloon discharges. A charged balloon sticks to a wall due to electrostatic induction, where the wall develops a surface charge opposite to that of the balloon.

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797 views4 pages

Static Electricity Question Paper

The document describes an experiment involving charging balloons through friction. It asks questions about the behavior and interactions of charged balloons. In part (a), two identically charged balloons repel each other because like charges repel. In part (b), a balloon becomes negatively charged when rubbed with a cloth, gaining electrons from the cloth. When the charged balloon touches a metal cabinet, the charge is conducted away and the balloon discharges. A charged balloon sticks to a wall due to electrostatic induction, where the wall develops a surface charge opposite to that of the balloon.

Uploaded by

theja sudarshani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Questions

Q1.

(a) A student charges two balloons and hangs them side by side.

Explain why the cotton threads are not vertical.


(2)
..............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
(b) The student rubs another balloon with a cloth.
This balloon becomes negatively charged.
(i) Complete the sentence by putting a cross ( ) in the box next to your answer.
Compared to the charge gained by the balloon, the cloth gains
(1)
A a larger negative charge
B a larger positive charge
C an equal negative charge
D an equal positive charge
(ii) Explain why the balloon became negatively charged when it was rubbed with the cloth.
(2)
..............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
(iii) The student then puts this charged balloon against a metal cabinet.
Describe what happens to the charge on the balloon where it touches the metal cabinet.
(2)
..............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
(iv) The student charges another balloon and holds it against a wall. The charged balloon sticks to the
wall when he lets go.
Suggest why the balloon is attracted to the wall.
(1)
..............................................................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................................................
(Total for Question = 8 marks)
Examiner's Report
Q1.

a
Most candidates correctly stated that the two balloons repelled each other. Better candidates could state
that this was because they both had the same charge. At this stage in the question the nature of the
charge had not been declared and examiners would accept 'both had positive charge' or 'both had
negative charge'. There is still some misunderstanding of the term static with answers such as 'both
balloons have static' being fairly common.

Results Plus: Examiner Comments


A good, clear answer which scored both marks.

Results Plus: Examiner Comments


This scored a mark for the idea that the balloons were pushing each other away, but
static charge is too vague for the other mark.

Results Plus: Examiner Comments


This gets a mark for writing that the balloons have the same charge but does not
actually state that the balloons repel and so did not get the other mark.

bii
At this stage in the question, candidates had been told that the balloon had a negative charge
and so answers which tried to give the balloon a positive charge could not be accepted. Those
who appreciated that electrons could be transferred usually went on to give the correct direction
from cloth to balloon: unlike candidates who thought that positive charge moved ( either 'positive
electrons' or 'protons' ). Surprisingly few candidates mentioned friction even though this is clearly
mentioned in the specifications. This would have given a mark regardless of any subsequent
errors in nature and direction of charge movement.
Results Plus: Examiner Comments
A good, clear answer which scored two marks.

biii-iv
In part iii, many candidates seemed to miss the point that the cabinet was metal and tried to
describe the balloon being attracted or repelled. Examiners were looking for responses which
described the movement of charge from balloon to cabinet. Failure to mention the nature of the
charge was not penalised but an incorrect statement that positive charge moved was not
accepted. Earthing is mentioned explicitly in the specification and candidates who correctly used
this term scored a mark. The flow of electrons in a metal is also in the specification and mention
of this scored a mark.
In part iv, examiners were looking for either correct use of the term induction or a description in
terms of charge separation at the surface of the wall. It was pleasing to see that a good many
candidates were able to give a very clear description of this process. Candidates who wrote that
the wall had a positive charge without directly specifying that this was at the surface, were given
the benefit of the doubt. Candidates who only stated that 'opposite charges attract' did not give
sufficient detail to score a mark.

Results Plus: Examiner Comments


This response easily made all of the possible mark points in the first part. The
description of electrostatic induction is good and is typical of many responses seen.

Mark Scheme
Q1.
Answer Acceptable Mark
answers
(a) an explanation balloons repulse /
linking: balloons push away
repel (1) (because) (from each other/to
they have like the side) same
charges (1) charge / both
positive / both
negative accept like
charges repel for 2
marks (2)
(b)(i) D an equal (1)
positive charge
(b)(ii) an explanation charge/electrons
linking any two of move accept
friction (between balloon gains
cloth and balloon) (1) electrons from the
transfer of electrons cloth for 2 marks
(1)
(electrons/negative
charges move) from
cloth to balloon (1) (2)
(b)(iii) a description earthed / neutral
including two from (negative) charge for
the following: electrons accept
 balloon becomes electrons move to
discharged (1) earth for 2 marks
 metal /cabinet is
a conductor (1)
 electrons move
through / on to metal
/ cabinet (1) (2)
(b)(iv) (surface of) wall charges on the wall
(becomes) positively separate charge
charged /charged by closest to the surface
induction (1) of the wall is
opposite to the
charge on the
balloon (1)

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