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 =
− 1.6 × 10 −19 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.

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D Electricity and Magnetism Chapter 14 Electrostatics

Practice 14.2 (p. 21)

1 D
2 D
3 C
4 (a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

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.

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D Electricity and Magnetism Chapter 14 Electrostatics

Revision exercise 14 (1A)

Multiple-choice (p. 24) (The forces should balance each other.)
Section A (c) The net charge on sphere C can be either
1 B positive or neutral. (1A)
2 C The student is incorrect. (1A)
3 A 2 (a) A is negatively charged. (1A)
4 C C is positively charged. (1A)
5 C (b)
6 (HKCEE 2003 Paper II Q44) tension

7 (HKCEE 2004 Paper II Q27) force due to C

−
8 (HKCEE 2005 Paper II Q17) force due to B
A

Section B
9 D weight
10 B
11 C (Correct free-body diagram for A.) (1A)
12 D
13 (HKCEE 2001 Paper II Q28)
tension

force due to A
Conventional (p. 26) +
B
Section A force due to C

1 (a) Sphere A carries a negative charge. (1A)

Since like charges repel, the repulsion weight
between spheres A and B implies that
sphere A carries the same type of charge as (Correct free-body diagram for B.) (1A)
sphere B, i.e. a negative charge. (1A)
(b)
tension

force due to A +
force due to B
C

weight

(Correct free-body diagram for C.) (1A)

(Correct weight.) (1A)
(Correct tension.) (1A)
(Correct electrostatic force: repulsion.)

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D Electricity and Magnetism Chapter 14 Electrostatics

(c) (i) If B is (c) This can be prevented by earthing, i.e.

removed, A and C attract each connecting the car and the Earth with a
other. (1A) metal chain at the back of the car. (1A)
(ii) If A and B are interchanged, A will 5 (a) When lightning hit the lightning rod, the
not deflect, (1A) metal ball would hit bell A first. (1A)
B will deflect to the right and (1A) When lightning hit the lightning rod, bell
C will deflect to the left. (1A) A would be negatively charged. Positive
3 (a) The teeth become positively charged.(1A) induced charges would appear on the
(b) Negative charge is on the bristles of the surface of the metal ball facing bell A,
toothbrush. (1A) while induced negative charges would
(c) Positively-charged plaque leaves the tooth appear on the other side of the metal ball.
surface because the plaque and the teeth (1A)
have the same type of charge and there is Since unlike charges attract and like
repulsion between them. (1A) charges repel (1A)
Also since the bristles of the toothbrush and induced positive charges would be
and the plaque have opposite charges, the closer to the bell A, the metal ball would be
attraction between the plaque and the attracted towards bell A and hit bell A first.
bristles makes the plaque leave the tooth (1A)
surface. (1A) (For effective communication.) (1C)
(b) (i) Sparks are produced as charges
Section B jump from bell A to the ball. (1A)
4 (a) Charge is accumulated on the body of the (ii)
car. (1A) A B
−
− − +− +
When the car runs on a road, its tyres and +−
− − +
body are charged by friction with road and
air respectively. (1A)
(b) When the driver steps on the ground with
his hand touching a car door, the car is (Correct shape of electric field lines.)
earthed through his body. (1A) (1A)
If the car body is negatively charged, (Correct direction of electric field lines.)
electrons flow through the driver from the (1A)
car to the Earth. (The direction of electron
flow reverses if the car is positively
charged.) (1A)
The flow of electrons through the driver
causes electric shock. (1A)
(For effective communication.) (1C)

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D Electricity and Magnetism Chapter 14 Electrostatics

6 (a) (i) When the plastic ruler is rubbed with 7 (a) (i) Electron is transferred from one
a duster, electrons are transferred material to the other. (1A)
(1A) (ii) When the charge built up is large
from the duster to the ruler. (1A) enough, sparks can be formed. (1A)
Since the ruler gains extra electrons, If sparks ignite petrol vapour,
it becomes negatively charged. (1A) explosion results. (1A)
(ii) A positive charge is left on the duster. Therefore, it is very dangerous.
(1A) (iii) A metal chain can be used to connect
(b) (i) Since like charges repel, (1A) the pipe and the Earth to prevent the
the positively-charged paint droplets build-up of charge. (1A)
repel each other (1A) (b) The granules gain the same type of charge
and spread out much more than when they pass the funnel. (1A)
uncharged paint droplets. Since like charges repel, the granules repel
(ii) Since unlike charges attract, (1A) each other. Hence, some of them are
the positively-charged paint droplets pushed out sideways and miss the
would stick to a negatively-charged container. (1A)
car door better. (1A)
(c) (i) Charges accumulate on a fuel truck. Physics in articles (p. 28)
(1A) 1 (a) The droplets of spray with the same charge
(Or other reasonable answers, like repel each other. Thus tiny droplets will
lightning.) not accumulate as a large droplet of spray.
(ii) Charges on the fuel truck can be (1A)
discharged safely by connecting the The skin is originally neutral. Charge is
truck and the Earth (1A) induced on the skin, which is opposite to
with a metal chain. (1A) the charge of the droplets. (1A)
(Or other reasonable answers. For Droplets are attracted to the skin and stick
lightning, charges on the cloud can be on it because of the induced charge. (1A)
discharged by using lightning (For effective communication.) (1C)
conductor on the roof of a building. (b) Only a little amount (about 20 millilitres)
Lightning conductor conducts of new spray is wasted in each spray.(1A)
electrons on a cloud to the Earth.) (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)

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D Electricity and Magnetism Chapter 14 Electrostatics

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)

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