P4 Electric Circuits

Question 1

Charging with friction

Answer 1

Rub an insulating material with a dry cloth

Question 2

Electric fields

Answer 2

• Attraction and repulsive forces between charged objects are caused by an electric field that forms around charged objects
• Field lines are lines of force that charge particles can move along
• Arrow on lines of force move away from positively charged objects and towards negatively charged objects

Question 3

Static shock

Answer 3

• Distance between 2 charge objects decreases -> force increases
• Force gets stronger -> draw electrons in air molecules towards the positive charge
• Causes a steam of electrons to flow from the negatively charged object to the positively charged object
• Air gets so hot it glows white -> spark

Question 4

How does the Van de Graaff Generator work?

Answer 4

The spinning belt removes electrons from the metal sphere, leaving it positively charged

Question 5

Why does the Van de Graaff generator make hair stand up?

Answer 5

• Electrons are drawn off the person -> gives them a positive charge
• Positive charge on the head repels the positive charge on the hair, making them stand up
• Positive charge on the hair repel each other