D Electricity and Magnetism Chapter 14 Electrostatics

14 Electrostatics

Practice 14.1 (p. 17) 9 When rubbed, the plastic comb is charged by
1 D friction. Suppose the comb carries a positive
2 D charge. When the comb is put close to hairs, a
3 D negative charge is induced on hairs, on the
4 D side close to the comb; a positive charge is
5 induced on hairs, on the side away from the
comb. Since the negative induced charge on
tension
hairs is closer to the comb, the attraction
between hairs and the comb is larger than the
repulsion repulsion. Hence, the comb can attract hairs.
weight The case is similar when the comb is
negatively charged.
6 (a) True 10 When we use a piece of cloth to clean TV and
(b) False computer screens, the screens would be
(c) True charged by friction. Suppose a screen is
(d) True positively charged. When dust comes close to
(e) True it, negative and positive charges are induced
(f) True on dust, on the side close to the screen and the
−9
−10 side away from the screen respectively. Since
7 Number of extra electrons =
−19
−1.6 ×10 the negative induced charge on dust is closer
= 6.25 × 10 9
to the screen, the attraction between the screen
8 The small particles of polystyrene carry and dust is larger than the repulsion between
electrostatic charge and repel one another. them. Hence, dust is attracted to the screen.
Therefore they spread around and attach to the The case is similar when the screen is
inside surface of the plastic bottle. When we negatively charged.
rub the plastic bottle, the charges of the small 11 This is because as soon as the charges appear
particles and the hand repel each other, thus on the metal rod after rubbing, they are
causing the small particles flying up and conducted away to the Earth via the human
down. body.
A metal rod can be charged by rubbing when
it is insulated from the human body and the
surroundings.

New Physics at Work (Second Edition) 1  Oxford University Press 2006

D Electricity and Magnetism Chapter 14 Electrostatics

Practice 14.2 (p. 21) Revision exercise 14

1 D Multiple-choice (p. 24)
2 D Section A
3 C 1 B
4 (a) 2 C
3 A
4 C
5 C
6 (HKCEE 2003 Paper II Q44)
7 (HKCEE 2004 Paper II Q27)
8 (HKCEE 2005 Paper II Q17)
(b)

Section B
9 D
10 B
11 C
12 D
13 (HKCEE 2001 Paper II Q28)
(c)

Conventional (p. 26)

Section A
1 (a) Sphere A carries a negative charge. (1A)
Since like charges repel, the repulsion
between spheres A and B implies that
(d) sphere A carries the same type of charge as
sphere B, i.e. a negative charge. (1A)
(b)

5 For a small positive charge, it will move in the

direction of electric field lines. For a small
negative charge, it will move in the direction
opposite to that of electric field lines.
(Correct weight.) (1A)
(Correct tension.) (1A)
(Correct electrostatic force: repulsion.)

New Physics at Work (Second Edition) 2  Oxford University Press 2006

D Electricity and Magnetism Chapter 14 Electrostatics

(1A) (c) (i) If B is removed, A and C attract

(The forces should balance each other.) each other. (1A)
(c) The net charge on sphere C can be either (ii) If A and B are interchanged, A will
positive or neutral. (1A) not deflect, (1A)
The student is incorrect. (1A) B will deflect to the right and (1A)
2 (a) A is negatively charged. (1A) C will deflect to the left. (1A)
C is positively charged. (1A) 3 (a) The teeth become positively charged.(1A)
(b) (b) Negative charge is on the bristles of the
tension toothbrush. (1A)
force due to C (c) Positively-charged plaque leaves the tooth
− force due to B surface because the plaque and the teeth
A
have the same type of charge and there is
repulsion between them. (1A)
weight Also since the bristles of the toothbrush
and the plaque have opposite charges, the
(Correct free-body diagram for A.) (1A) attraction between the plaque and the
bristles makes the plaque leave the tooth
surface. (1A)
tension

force due to A
+ Section B
B
force due to C 4 (a) Charge is accumulated on the body of the
car. (1A)

weight
When the car runs on a road, its tyres and
body are charged by friction with road and
(Correct free-body diagram for B.) (1A) air respectively. (1A)
(b) When the driver steps on the ground with
his hand touching a car door, the car is
tension
earthed through his body. (1A)
If the car body is negatively charged,
force due to A +
force due to B
C electrons flow through the driver from the
car to the Earth. (The direction of electron
flow reverses if the car is positively
weight
charged.) (1A)
(Correct free-body diagram for C.) (1A) The flow of electrons through the driver
causes electric shock. (1A)
(For effective communication.) (1C)
(c) This can be prevented by earthing, i.e.

New Physics at Work (Second Edition) 3  Oxford University Press 2006

D Electricity and Magnetism Chapter 14 Electrostatics

connecting the car and the Earth with a 6 (a) (i) When the plastic ruler is rubbed with
metal chain at the back of the car. (1A) a duster, electrons are transferred
5 (a) When lightning hit the lightning rod, the (1A)
metal ball would hit bell A first. (1A) from the duster to the ruler. (1A)
When lightning hit the lightning rod, bell Since the ruler gains extra electrons,
A would be negatively charged. Positive it becomes negatively charged. (1A)
induced charges would appear on the (ii) A positive charge is left on the
surface of the metal ball facing bell A, duster. (1A)
while induced negative charges would (b) (i) Since like charges repel, (1A)
appear on the other side of the metal ball. the positively-charged paint droplets
(1A) repel each other (1A)
Since unlike charges attract and like and spread out much more than
charges repel (1A) uncharged paint droplets.
and induced positive charges would be (ii) Since unlike charges attract, (1A)
closer to the bell A, the metal ball would be the positively-charged paint droplets
attracted towards bell A and hit bell A first. would stick to a negatively-charged
(1A) car door better. (1A)
(For effective communication.) (1C) (c) (i) Charges accumulate on a fuel truck.
(b) (i) Sparks are produced as charges (1A)
jump from bell A to the ball. (1A) (Or other reasonable answers, like
(ii) lightning.)
A B (ii) Charges on the fuel truck can be
−
− − +− +
+− discharged safely by connecting the
− − +
truck and the Earth (1A)
with a metal chain. (1A)
(Or other reasonable answers. For
(Correct shape of electric field lines.) lightning, charges on the cloud can
(1A) be discharged by using lightning
(Correct direction of electric field lines.) conductor on the roof of a building.
(1A) Lightning conductor conducts
electrons on a cloud to the Earth.)

New Physics at Work (Second Edition) 4  Oxford University Press 2006

D Electricity and Magnetism Chapter 14 Electrostatics

7 (a) (i) Electron is transferred from one
material to the other. (1A)
(ii) When the charge built up is large
enough, sparks can be formed. (1A)
If sparks ignite petrol vapour,
explosion results. (1A)
Therefore, it is very dangerous.
(iii) A metal chain can be used to connect
the pipe and the Earth to prevent the
build-up of charge. (1A)
(b) The granules gain the same type of charge
when they pass the funnel. (1A)
Since like charges repel, the granules repel
each other. Hence, some of them are
pushed out sideways and miss the
container. (1A)
2 (a) (i) When a positively-charged rod is put
near the electroscope, negative
charge is induced on the metal plate.
(1A)
Positive charge is induced in the
metal support and the gold leaf so
that the positive charge is further
from the positively-charged rod.
(1A)
Because of the repulsion between
like charges, the gold leaf will rise.
(1A)
(For effective communication.) (1C)
(ii) The gold leaf will drop. (1A)
(b) (i) The gold leaf will rise. (1A)
(ii) The gold leaf will drop. (1A)

Physics in articles (p. 28)

1 (a) The droplets of spray with the same
charge repel each other. Thus tiny droplets
will not accumulate as a large droplet of
spray. (1A)
The skin is originally neutral. Charge is
induced on the skin, which is opposite to
the charge of the droplets. (1A)
Droplets are attracted to the skin and stick
on it because of the induced charge. (1A)
(For effective communication.) (1C)
(b) Only a little amount (about 20 millilitres)
of new spray is wasted in each spray.(1A)
(c) If the droplets and the skin have the same
charge, the droplets and the skin will repel
each other. (1A)
The droplets will not stick to the skin.
(1A)

New Physics at Work (Second Edition) 5  Oxford University Press 2006