Two neutral objects - object A and object B - are rubbed together. During the process, electrons are transferred from object A to object B. This would cause object A to acquire a _____ charge and object B to acquire a _____ charge.

Charged vs. Uncharged Objects

Whether or not an object is charged or uncharged (neutral) is dependent upon whether the numbers of protons (+ type of charge) or electrons (- type of charge) are balanced or imbalanced. A neutral object possesses the same amount of the two types of charge while a charged object has a balance of the two types of charge. If an object is charged, then it can be either positively or negatively charged. A positively charged object possesses more protons than electrons and a negatively charged object possesses more electrons than protons.

Objects A and B have been charged by friction (see Physics Rules section below). In the process, once-neutral object A lost electrons and once-neutral object B gained electrons. This gives object A a shortage of electrons and object B an excess of electrons. Both objects A and B will have an imbalance of the two types of charge. If necessary, read the Physics Rules section above to determine the type of charge on these two objects.

Charging by Friction:

Charging by friction is the charging process which usually involves the rubbing together of two objects of dissimilar materials in order to transfer electrons from one object to the other. The object made of the material with the greatest affinity for electrons is the object which receives the electrons; the object with the lesser affinity for electrons provides the electrons. The process usually involves the rubbing of the two materials because it increases the amount of close intimate contact between the different atoms and allows for more electrons to be transferred.

What must a neutral atom do to become charged negatively or positively?

Why do objects acquire a charge when rubbed together? What happens at the atomic level?

Two neutral objects - object A and object B - are rubbed together. During the process, object A becomes charged positively and object B becomes charged negatively. This is because ______.

Charging by Friction:

Charging by friction is the charging process which usually involves the rubbing together of two objects of dissimilar materials in order to transfer electrons from one object to the other. The object made of the material with the greatest affinity for electrons is the object which receives the electrons; the object with the lesser affinity for electrons provides the electrons. The process usually involves the rubbing of the two materials because it increases the amount of close intimate contact between the different atoms and allows for more electrons to be transferred.

Charging processes involve a movement of electrons and not a movement of protons (see Don't Be Fooled!! section below). When charging by friction, as in this case, electrons move from one object to the other object. The object which gains the electrons would then be negatively charged. The object which loses the electrons would then be positively charged.

Many students have the misconception that an object can become positively charged by gaining protons. But don't be fooled! Protons are indeed positively charged, but they are present in the nucleus of atoms and as such are tightly bound in that location. The charging of objects always occurs by means of a movement of electrons - either off of an object or onto an object.

What must a neutral atom do to become charged negatively or positively?

Why do objects acquire a charge when rubbed together? What happens at the atomic level?

Two neutral objects - object A and object B - are rubbed together. During the process, object A becomes charged negatively and object B becomes charged positively. This is because ______.

Charging by Friction:

Charging by friction is the charging process which usually involves the rubbing together of two objects of dissimilar materials in order to transfer electrons from one object to the other. The object made of the material with the greatest affinity for electrons is the object which receives the electrons; the object with the lesser affinity for electrons provides the electrons. The process usually involves the rubbing of the two materials because it increases the amount of close intimate contact between the different atoms and allows for more electrons to be transferred.

Charging processes involve a movement of electrons and not a movement of protons (see Don't Be Fooled!! section below). When charging by friction, as in this case, electrons move from one object to the other object. The object which gains the electrons would then be negatively charged. The object which loses the electrons would then be positively charged.

Many students have the misconception that an object can become positively charged by gaining protons. But don't be fooled! Protons are indeed positively charged, but they are present in the nucleus of atoms and as such are tightly bound in that location. The charging of objects always occurs by means of a movement of electrons - either off of an object or onto an object.

How does the direction of electron transfer relate to the subsequent type of charge on two objects which are rubbed together?

Why do objects acquire a charge when rubbed together? What happens at the atomic level?

In typical electrostatic experiments, protons cannot be gained or lost from an atom because they are _____.

The Structure of An Atom:

The three main subatomic particles are the proton, electron and neutron. The proton and neutron are the more massive of the three subatomic particles; they are located in the nucleus of the atom, forming the dense core of the atom. The proton is charged positively. The neutron does not possess a charge and is said to be neutral. The protons and neutrons are bound tightly together within the nucleus of the atom. Outside the nucleus are concentric spherical regions of space known as electron shells. The shells are the home of negatively charged electrons.

Many students have the misconception that an object can become positively charged by gaining protons. But don't be fooled! Protons are indeed positively charged, but they are present in the nucleus of atoms and as such are tightly bound in that location. The charging of objects always occurs by means of a movement of electrons - either off of an object or onto an object.

Why do objects acquire a charge when rubbed together? What happens at the atomic level?

Material X has a greater electron affinity than material Y. When two neutral samples of these materials are rubbed together, _______.

Charging by Friction:

Charging by friction is the charging process which usually involves the rubbing together of two objects of dissimilar materials in order to transfer electrons from one object to the other. The object made of the material with the greatest affinity for electrons is the object which receives the electrons; the object with the lesser affinity for electrons provides the electrons. The process usually involves the rubbing of the two materials because it increases the amount of close intimate contact between the different atoms and allows for more electrons to be transferred.

Why do objects acquire a charge when rubbed together? What happens at the atomic level?

How do the electron affinities of two materials effect the subsequent charge they acquire when rubbed together?

Material X has a greater (OR lower) electron affinity than material Y. When two neutral samples of these materials are rubbed together, X acquires a ____ charge and Y acquires a ____ charge.

Charging by Friction:

Charging by friction is the charging process which usually involves the rubbing together of two objects of dissimilar materials in order to transfer electrons from one object to the other. The object made of the material with the greatest affinity for electrons is the object which receives the electrons; the object with the lesser affinity for electrons provides the electrons. The process usually involves the rubbing of the two materials because it increases the amount of close intimate contact between the different atoms and allows for more electrons to be transferred.

Charging processes involve a movement of electrons (see Physics Rules section above). When charging by friction, as in this case, electrons move from one object to the other object. The object which gains the electrons becomes negatively charged. The object which loses the electrons becomes positively charged.

Why do objects acquire a charge when rubbed together? What happens at the atomic level?

How do the electron affinities of two materials effect the subsequent charge they acquire when rubbed together?

Material X and material Y are rubbed together. As a result, material X acquires a negative charge. This means that ______.

Charging by Friction:

Charging by friction is the charging process which usually involves the rubbing together of two objects of dissimilar materials in order to transfer electrons from one object to the other. The object made of the material with the greatest affinity for electrons is the object which receives the electrons; the object with the lesser affinity for electrons provides the electrons. The process usually involves the rubbing of the two materials because it increases the amount of close intimate contact between the different atoms and allows for more electrons to be transferred.

If material X becomes charged negatively when rubbed with material Y, then it gained electrons from material Y. This occurs because their atoms were in close intimate contact, allowing the more electron-loving material to draw electrons off the least electron-loving material.

How do the electron affinities of two materials effect the subsequent charge they acquire when rubbed together?

How does the direction of electron transfer relate to the subsequent type of charge on two objects which are rubbed together?

Material X and material Y are rubbed together. As a result, material X acquires a positive charge. This means that ______.

Charging by Friction:

Charging by friction is the charging process which usually involves the rubbing together of two objects of dissimilar materials in order to transfer electrons from one object to the other. The object made of the material with the greatest affinity for electrons is the object which receives the electrons; the object with the lesser affinity for electrons provides the electrons. The process usually involves the rubbing of the two materials because it increases the amount of close intimate contact between the different atoms and allows for more electrons to be transferred.

If material X becomes charged positively when rubbed with material Y, then it lost electrons to material Y when rubbed against it. This occurs because their atoms were in close intimate contact, allowing the more electron-loving material Y to draw electrons off the least electron-loving material X.

How do the electron affinities of two materials effect the subsequent charge they acquire when rubbed together?

How does the direction of electron transfer relate to the subsequent type of charge on two objects which are rubbed together?

A rubber balloon is rubbed on a wool sweater. In the process, electrons are transferred from the wool sweater to the rubber balloon. As a result the balloon acquires ____.

Charging by Friction:

Charging by friction is the charging process which usually involves the rubbing together of two objects of dissimilar materials in order to transfer electrons from one object to the other. The object made of the material with the greatest affinity for electrons is the object which receives the electrons; the object with the lesser affinity for electrons provides the electrons. The process usually involves the rubbing of the two materials because it increases the amount of close intimate contact between the different atoms and allows for more electrons to be transferred.

Charging processes involve a movement of electrons (see Physics Rules section above). When charging by friction, as in this case, electrons move from one object to the other object. The object which gains the electrons becomes negatively charged. The object which loses the electrons becomes positively charged.

How does the direction of electron transfer relate to the subsequent type of charge on two objects which are rubbed together?

Why do objects acquire a charge when rubbed together? What happens at the atomic level?

A plastic golf tube is rubbed by bunny fur and electrons are transferred from the fur to the tube. As a result, the plastic golf tube acquires __.

Charging by Friction:

Charging by friction is the charging process which usually involves the rubbing together of two objects of dissimilar materials in order to transfer electrons from one object to the other. The object made of the material with the greatest affinity for electrons is the object which receives the electrons; the object with the lesser affinity for electrons provides the electrons. The process usually involves the rubbing of the two materials because it increases the amount of close intimate contact between the different atoms and allows for more electrons to be transferred.

Charging processes involve a movement of electrons (see Physics Rules section above). When charging by friction, as in this case, electrons move from one object to the other object. The object which gains the electrons becomes negatively charged. The object which loses the electrons becomes positively charged.

How does the direction of electron transfer relate to the subsequent type of charge on two objects which are rubbed together?

Why do objects acquire a charge when rubbed together? What happens at the atomic level?

A plastic golf tube is rubbed by bunny fur and electrons are transferred from the fur to the tube. This means that the _____.

Charging by Friction:

Charging by friction is the charging process which usually involves the rubbing together of two objects of dissimilar materials in order to transfer electrons from one object to the other. The object made of the material with the greatest affinity for electrons is the object which receives the electrons; the object with the lesser affinity for electrons provides the electrons. The process usually involves the rubbing of the two materials because it increases the amount of close intimate contact between the different atoms and allows for more electrons to be transferred.

Electrons are transferred from the fur to the tube during the charging process. This occurs because their atoms were in close intimate contact, allowing the more electron-loving plastic to draw electrons off the least electron-loving fur.

How do the electron affinities of two materials effect the subsequent charge they acquire when rubbed together?

How does the direction of electron transfer relate to the subsequent type of charge on two objects which are rubbed together?