Chapter 15 – Static Electricity

‘Section B’ Short Question: Typical of

Question 5 in Leaving Cert. Exam
Q1 Answer all of the following parts (a), (b), (c), etc.
(a) How do you charge a Perspex rod? What type of charge will it typically
hold? (7)
(charged by) friction (4)
(charge type) positive (3)

(b) Give one difference between the structure of a good conductor and a good
insulator. (7)
conductor: electrons / charge carriers free to move through substance //
electrons are loosely held to atoms / molecules (any one 7)

(c) State two factors affecting the amount of static charge that can build up on
the dome of a Van de Graaff generator. (7)
size of the dome / quality of the insulating pillars (4, 3)

(d) A pear-shaped conductor is placed on an insulated stand as shown in Fig 15.22.

The conductor is given a negative charge. Copy the diagram and show how
the charge is distributed over the conductor. (7)

⫺ ⫺
⫺⫺
⫺⫺ ⫺
⫺⫺
⫺
⫺ ⫺

(7)
Fig 15.22

(e) Give two differences between Newton’s law of gravitation and Coulomb’s
law of electrostatic force. (7)
gravitational force is much smaller (than the electrostatic force) // gravitational
force is always attractive, electrostatic force can be attractive or repulsive
(4  3)

S TAT I C E L E C T R I C I T Y 93
 (f) Draw the pattern of an electric field around two positive point charges
placed close to each other. (7)
⫹ ⫹
correct shape / correct direction (4, 3)

(g) Identify two positive applications of static electricity. (7)

photocopiers / precipitators (4, 3)

HIGHER LEVEL (h) Calculate the size of the electrostatic force between two electrons that are
1  104 m apart. The charge on an electron is 1.6  1019 C, permittivity
of free space  8.9  10–12 F m–1. (6)
(1.6  10 19)(1.6  10 19)
– 2 > F
1 Q1Q2 1
F – (3)
4pe d 4p(8.9  10 12) (1  10 4)2

(F ) 2.29  10 20 N (3)

(i) The permittivity of Pyrex is 4.183  1011 F m1. Calculate its relative
permittivity. The permittivity of free space e  8.9  1012 F m1. (7)
e  er e0 / (er ) 4.7 (4, 3)

(j) What is the force exerted on an electron when it is in an electric field of

strength 8 N C1?
The charge on an electron is 1.6  1019 C. (7)

>E >E > 8

F F F F
E (4)
Q q e 1.6  10 19
(F )1.28  10 18 N (3)

‘Section B’ Full Question

Q2 Describe how an electric field pattern may be demonstrated in the
laboratory. (12)

High voltage
d.c. power supply
⫺ ⫹
Container

Metal plate

Semolina
Metal plate
Cooking oil

Apparatus: Oil, metal plates, container, semolina, high d.c. voltage (3)
Procedure: Correct arrangement // switch power on (3, 3)
Observation/Conclusion: Semolina particles line up to show field pattern (3)

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 Define electric field strength and give its unit of measurement. (9)
F
Force / per unit charge // / notation (3, 3)
Q
N C1 // V m1 (3)
A spherical conductor of external diameter of 20 cm has a positive charge of 2 C
on it.

(i) What is the electric field strength at a point 10 cm from the sphere?
Permittivity of free space  8.9  1012 F m1. (12)
1 Q
E – (3)
4pe d2
d  20 (cm) > 0.2 (m) (3)
1 2
E 12 –
(3)
4p(8.9  10 ) (0.2)2
(E ) 4.47  1011 N C1 away from the sphere (3)

(ii) What is the electrostatic force exerted on the 3 mC point charge at this
distance? (6)

> E  > E  > 4.47  1011 

F F F F
E (3)
Q q e 3  10 6
(F ) 1.34  106 N (away from the sphere) (3)

(iii) What would the effect be on the force on the point charge were it to be
placed 30 cm away from the surface of the sphere rather than 10 cm
away? (5)
reduced by a factor of four (5)

State Coulomb’s law of force between electric charges. (6)

Force r product of charges / inversely proportional to distance squared //
Q1Q2
F r / notation (3, 3)
d2

How are integrated circuits projected from sparks due to strong electric
fields? (6)
Faraday’s cage / earthing employees (any method explained) (6)

‘Section B’ Full ‘STS’ Question: Typical of

Question 11 in Leaving Cert. Exam
Q3 Read the following passage and answer the accompanying questions.
A group of teachers were discussing the hazards of static electricity over coffee in
their school staffroom.The English teacher asked the physicist: ‘Why does one
earth aircraft during refuelling, but not cars at a petrol station?’

S TAT I C E L E C T R I C I T Y 95
 The physicist replied that both the plane and the car are earthed; the car’s fuel
tank and filler neck are bonded to the car chassis and the tyres are loaded with
carbon to make them electrically conductive.
The English teacher replied: ‘Then why the extra precautions when refuelling
aircraft and F1 race cars.’ The reply came from the economics teacher: ‘All to do
with scale; more fuel, less time, more people and more expensive vehicles.’
A maths teacher, who overheard the conversation, thanked the physicist and
recounted a story. ‘I had been pondering as to why my car occasionally zapped
me or my wife as we got out of it. I had assumed that either one of us was
discharging the car. I always let her get out first so she would get the shock, but
that didn’t always work. Sometimes I’d get zapped too. I now realise that we were
not discharging the static build-up on the car through ourselves but discharging
static on ourselves through the car.’
The physicist suggested: ‘Next time, open the car door, touch any metal part of
car and only then put your feet on the ground; but don’t tell your wife!’
(Adapted from a staffroom conversation)

(a) Explain why all the charge resides on the outside of the car. (7)
like charges repel // charges are a maximum distance apart (on outside /
surface of dome) (4, 3)

(b) Describe an experiment to demonstrate that total charge resides on the

outside of a conductor. (14)

Hollow metal can

mounted on dome of
Van de Graaff generator

Proof plane

Gold leaf
electroscope

Apparatus: Metal can, gold leaf electroscope, proof plane (3)

Procedure: Charge metal can and use proof plane to test inside / and
outside (3, 2)
Observation: Leaves on gold leaf electroscope deflect for outside sample
only (3)
Conclusion: Charge resides on outside only (3)

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 (c) Give two applications that make use of the fact that the charge remains on
the outside of hollow conductor. (7)
electrostatic shielding / coaxial cable / TV (signal) cable / to protect persons
or equipment, enclose them in hollow conductors / Faraday cages (there is
no electric field inside a closed conductor), etc. (any two 4  3)

(d) How does charge build up on the people inside the car? (7)
friction / clothes rubbing off seat / etc. (7)

(e) Why does touching the metal part of the car before exiting the car mean
that the passenger will not get a shock? (7)
(passenger will be) earthed (safely) (7)

(f) A strong electric field would build up around the car during travel if it weren’t
earthed during its journey. What is meant by electric field strength? (7)
region / area / space // where electric charges at rest experience a force (4, 3)

(g) Give one other safety hazard caused by static electricity and describe a
precaution taken against it. (7)
lightning / anaesthetic in hospitals // lightning conductors / conductive floor
tiles (4, 3)

‘Section B’ Half Question: Typical of

Question 12 in Leaving Cert. Exam
Q4 Answer both of the following parts (a) and (b).
(a) Fig 15.23 shows a positively charged gold leaf electroscope.

⫹ ⫹ ⫹ ⫹

⫹ ⫹

⫹ ⫹

Fig 15.23

(i) Describe how an electroscope is given a positive charge. (9)

charge a rod (negatively) / bring the (charged) rod close to the cap and
earth the cap / remove the earth before removing the rod (3, 3, 3)

S TAT I C E L E C T R I C I T Y 97
 (ii) What is observed when a negatively charged body is brought close to the
cap of the electroscope? Why does this happen? (7)
leaves collapse / because negative charges move from the cap to the
leaves (4, 3)

(iii) Explain how you would test for charge on a body, given that you must
determine if the body is charged at all, and if it is, whether that charge is
positive or negative. (12)
charge gold leaf electroscope positively (3)
bring test body close to cap and observe what happens to leaf (3)
charge gold leaf electroscope negatively, bring test body close to cap and
observe what happens to leaf (3)
Table filled in correctly (3)

Charge on Effect on leaf Implies that the object

electroscope is: divergence is: being tested is:
Negative Increase Negative
Negative Decrease Positive or Uncharged
Positive Increase Positive
Positive Decrease Negative or Uncharged

(b) Lightning strikes when a cloud discharges itself rapidly.Tall buildings are
protected by use of lightning conductors.

(i) How do the charged clouds become neutralised? (7)

electrons / current / charge / flow(s) to or from ground // through
conductor / copper / air (4, 3)

(ii) Describe a typical lightning conductor. (7)

(made from) copper / top of building to earth (4, 3)

(iii) What are the two ways in which a lightning conductor prevents a
building from being damaged by lightning? (7)
neutralises charged clouds // conducting charge / lightning / current to
earth (4, 3)

(iv) One of these methods of protection reduces the likelihood of lightning

striking at all. Explain how this happens. (7)
point effect / action / discharge (7)

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