6

STATIC ELECTRICITY

I. Tick () the most appropriate answer.

1. When an ebonite rod is rubbed with fur, the charge acquired by the
fur is:
(a) negative
(b) positive
(c) both positive and negative (d) none of these
2. When a negatively charged body is brought near a suspended
positively charged ball, the ball gets:
(a) attracted
(b) repelled
(c) stay at same place
(d) none of these
3. Aluminium metal is a:
(a) good conductor of electricity (b) magnetic substance
(c) bad conductor of electricity
(d) bad conductor of heat
4. A positively charged body has:
(a) excess of electrons
(b) deficiency of electrons
(c) no change in number of electrons
(d) none of these
5. When an uncharged conductor gets electrically charged when
brought near a charged body the process is called
(a) conduction (b) convection (c) induction (d) none of these 6.
When a glass rod is rubbed with silk, both glass rod and silk :
(a) acquire equal and similar charges
(b) acquire equal and opposite charges
(c) acquire unequal and similar charges
(d) acquire unequal and opposite charges
Ans. 1. (b)
2. (a)
3. (a)
4. (b)
5. (c)
6. (b)
II. Fill in the blanks.
1. Cats skin acquires __________ charge, when rubbed with ebonite
rod, because its electrons are transferred to __________ rod.
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2. Similar charges ____________ each other, whereas

opposite
charges _________ each other.
3. It is ______________ electrons in the outermost
______________
of an atom, which are responsible for electrification.
4. When a negatively charged body is placed in contact with
the
_____________ charged disc of G.L.E. its ___________
diverge.
5. In an atom number of ___________ is equal to number of
electrons.
6. An uncharged insulator can be charged by
_______________ with
another body.
7. An uncharged conductor can be charged by
______________.
8. ______________ is the surest test of electrification.
9. A G.L.E. can be charged ________________ by touching a
charged
glass rod with its cap.
10. A negatively charged body has ______________ of
electrons.
11. The process of charging objects like glass and amber is
known as
___________.
12. Ebonite rod acquires ______________ charge when rubbed
with
wool.
13. A body which has lost electrons becomes
______________.
14. ______________ is an instrument used for testing whether a
body
is charged or not.
15. _____________ is a device that protects buildings from a
lightning
strike.
16. ______________ is used in the chimneys of factories to

prevent
air pollution.
17. A glass rod is rubbed with silk, the charge on the glass
rod is
____________ and the charge on the silk is
_____________ .
18. An ebonite rod is rubbed with fur. The charge on the ebonite
rod is
___________ and the charge on the fur is ______________.
Ans. 1. Positive, ebonite
2. repel, attract
3. free, shell
4. negatively, leaves
5. Protons
6. rubbing
7. induction
8. repulsion
9. positively
10. excess
11. electrification 12. negative
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13. positively charged 14. electroscope

15. lightning conductor 16. electrostatic precipitator
17. positive, negative 18. negative, positive
III. Statements given below are incorrect. Write correct
statements.
1. Glass wool is good conductor of electricity.
Ans. Glass wool is bad conductor of electricity.
2. positive electrification is due to the excess of
electrons.
Ans. Positive electrification is due to deficiency of
electrons.
3. When silk is rubbed with glass, the silk gets positively
charged.
Ans. When silk is rubbed with glass, the silk gets negatively
charged.
4. Similar charges attract each other.
Ans. Similar charges repel each other.
5. When ebonite rod is rubbed with wool, they get oppositely
charged
due to induction.
Ans. When ebonite rod is rubbed with silk, they get oppositely
charged
due to conduction.
6. Lightning conductor always develops the similar charges as
is the
charge in the clouds.
Ans. Lightning conductor always develops the opposite charges as
is the
charge in the clouds.
7. A gold leaf electroscope can be charged by both conduction
only.
Ans. A gold leaf electroscope can be charged by conduction and
induction.
8. The electrons flow from a positively charged body to
negatively
charged body when connected with a copper wire.
Ans. The electrons flow from a negatively charged body to the
positively

charged body when connected with a copper wire.

9. The fur gets negatively charged because of deficiency of
electrons. Ans. The fur gets negatively charged because of
excess of electrons.
10. Bad conductors have excess of free electrons.
Ans. Good conductors have excess of free electrons.
11. Similar charges attract each other and opposite charges repel
each
other.
Ans. Similar charges repel each other while opposite charges
attract each
other.
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12. An uncharged electroscope can tell us the nature of

charge
on
a
body.
Ans. A charged electroscope can tell us the nature of charge on a
body.
13. Lightning is caused due to discharge of similar charged
clouds.
Ans. Lightning is caused due to discharge of oppositely charged
clouds.
14. Lightning do not strikes at high rise buildings.
Ans. Lightning strikes at high rise buildings.
15. An insulator allows readily an electric current to pass
through
it.
Ans. A conductor allows readily an electric current to pass
through it.
IV. (a) Match the columns.
Column A
Column B
1. Electric current
(a) unit of current.
2. Conductor
(b) device that prevents
a circuit from overheating
3. Insulator
(c) flow of electrons along
a conductor.
4. Ampere
(d) substance which allows
electricity to pass through
5. Fuse
it.
Ans. 1. (c), 2. (d), 3. (e), 4. (e) non-conductor.
(a),
5. (b)
(b) Column A
Column B
1. Two similar charges
(a) acquires a positive charge
2. Two dissimilar charges
(b) insulator
3. When a glass rod is rubbed
with silk, it
(c) conductor
4. When an ebonite rod is
rubbed
(d)
acquires a negative
with fur, it
charge (e) repal each other
5. Silver
(f) attract each other
6. Sulphur
5. (c), 6. (b)
Ans. 1. (e), 2. (f), 3. (a), 4.
(d),

V. Find the odd one out. Give a reason for your choice.
1. Mica, copper, wood, shellac, sealing wax.
Ans. Copper. Copper is a conductor while mica, wood, shellac and
sealing
wax are insulators.
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2. Mercury, sulphur, graphite, copper.

Ans. Sulphur. Sulphur is an insulator while mercury, graphite and
copper
are conductors.
3. Induction, conduction, magnet, charged body.
Ans. Magnet. Induction, conduction and charged body are all
related
to
static electricity while magnet is not.
4. Mercury, graphite, oxygen, human body, steel.
Ans. Oxygen. Oxygen is an insulator while mercury, graphite,
human
body
and steel are conductors.
5. Sulphur, rubber, wood, hydrogen, iron.
Ans. Iron. Iron is a conductor while sulphur, rubber, wood and
hydrogen
are insulators.
6. Electron, atom, proton, neutron.
Ans. Atom. An atom is the smallest unit of an element, which may
or may
not have an independent existence, but always take part in a
chemical
reaction. Atom is made up of electron, proton and neutron.
7. Chloride ion, oxide ion, nitride ion, magnesium ion.
Ans. Magnesiumion. Magnesium ion is positively charged ion
while
chloride ion, oxide ion and nitride ions are negatively
charged ions.
VI. Give reasons for the following.
1. When you touch the metal disc of an electroscope with a
charged
glass rod the metal leaves diverge.
Ans. When we touch the metal disc of an electroscope with a
charged
glass
rod the metal leaves diverge because of the transfer of free
electrons.
2. One should not use an umbrella while crossing an open
field
in
a

thunderstorm.
Ans. One should not use an umbrella while crossing an open
field in a
thunderstorm because when a charged cloud passes
over an
umbrella, it induces a charge in it, and there is an electrical
discharge
between an umbrella and the cloud. Which may be very
dangerous.
3. In an electroscope the disc, the connecting rod and the
leaves
are
all
made of metal.
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Ans. In an electroscope the disc, the connecting rod and the

leaves
are
all
made up of metals because metals are good conductors of
electricity.
4. The metal wires in the bottom part of the electroscope are
earthed. Ans. The metal wires in the bottom part of the
electroscope are earthed
because if there is any charge inside the bottle, it
immediately flows
to the earth making the inside of the bottle neutral.
5. The diverging leaves of a charged electroscope collapse, the
moment
you touch the disc of the electroscope with your finger.
Ans. The diverging leaves of a charged electroscope collapse, the
moment
you touch the disc of the electroscope with your finger
because no electric charge is present on it as the charge will
flow from hand to earth through the body.
VII. State the difference between the following.
1. Proton and electron.
Ans. Proton is a positively charged particle having one unit
positive charge
and has a mass almost equal to mass of one atom of
hydrogen.
While electron is a negatively charged particle having one unit
negative
charge and has a mass of 1/1837 times the mass of one
atom of
hydrogen.
2. The charge carried by a glass rod rubbed with silk and charge
carried
by ebonite rod rubbed with fur.
Ans. When a glass rod is rubbed with silk, a positive charge
develops on
the glass rod and a negative charge is developed on silk.
When an
ebonite rod is rubbed with fur, a negative charge develops on

ebonite
rod and a positive charge develops on fur.
3. Like charges and unlike charges.
Ans. Like charges repel each other while unlike charges attract each
other.
4. Static electricity and current electricity.
Ans. When an electric charge is at rest, it is known as static
electricity
when an electric charge is in motion, it is referred to as a
current
electricity.
5. Coductors and insulators.
Ans. The substances which have a large number of free electrons
such
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that they start drifting from one end of a substance to the

other
end,
when it is connected to some source of electricity are
called
conductors.
While the substances which have a few free electrons, such
that they do not easily drift from one end to the other end,
when connected to some source of electricity are called
insulators.
VIII. Answer the following questions.
1 Describe an experiment to show:
.
(a) Like charges repel each other.
(b) Unlike charges attract each other.
An (a) Experiment to show that like
s.
charges repel each other:
Take a glass rod and rub it
with
silk and suspend it freely by
a
silk
thread. Near this Suspended
rod,
bring another glass rod
which
is
rubbed with silk. It is
observed
that
suspended glass rod gets
repelled.
(b) Experiment to show
that unlike
charges attract each
other:
Take a glass rod and rub it
with
silk and suspend it freely by
a
silk
thread. Bring near it an
ebonite
rod
which is rubbed with cats

skin.
It
is observed that glass
rod
is
attracted by ebonite rod.
2. Briefly describe Rutherfords structure of atom.
Ans. Rutherfords structure of atom:
(i) An atom consists of
three
subatomic particles
neutrons,
protons and electrons.
(ii) Neutron has no charge,
proton
has one unit postive
charge and
electron has one unit
negative
charge.
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(iii) Protons and neutrons form the central core of atom

which is
commonly called nucleus.
(iv) The electrons revolve around the nucleus in fixed
orbits.
(v) As the atom of a normal element is electrically neutral
therefore,
it is believed that the number of protons in an atom
is equal
to the number of electrons.
3. Why does a glass rod get positively charged, when rubbed
with
silk? Explain on the basis of electron transfer.
Ans. The glass rod transfers its electrons to the silk when it is
rubbed
with silk. Thus, glass rod has less number of electrons
than the number of protons in the nucleus. Thus, on the
whole, the glass rod gets positively charged.
4. Why does an ebonite rod get negatively charged, when rubbed
with
fur? Explain on the basis of electron transfer.
Ans. Ebonite rod gains electrons from the fur when it is rubbed
with fur.
Thus ebonite has more negative charges as compared to
positive
charges in the nucleus. Thus, on the whole, ebonite rod gets
negatively
charged.
5. state the mass and charge on
(a) electron
(b) proton
(c) neutron
Ans.

Charge
Mass
(a) Electron 1 unit negative charge 1/1837 times that of

mass
(b) Proton
hydrogen

1 unit positive charge

of one hydrogen
atom.
Almost equal to
atom.

(c) Neutron No electric charge

hydrogen

Almost equal to

atom.
6. What are conductors? Define on the basis of structure of
atom.
Give four examples of different classes of conductors.
Ans. A substance, which has a large number of free electrons, such
that
they start drifting from one end of a substance to the other
end, when it is connected to some source of electricity, is
called conductor. Four examples of different classes of
conductors are:
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(i) Metals: Iron, copper, gold, silver, etc.

(ii) Solution of acids in water: Dil hydrochloric
acid, dil nitric
acid, dil sulphuric acid and carbonic acid, etc.
(iii) Solution of alkalies in water: Sodium
hydroxide, ammonium
hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide,
etc.
(iv) Solution of soluble salts in water:
Sodium chloride,
potassium nitrate, etc.
7 What are insulators? Define on the basis of structure of atom.
. Name
six insulators.
Ans. A substance, which has a few free electrons, such that they
do not
easily drift from one end of the substance to the other
end, when
connected to some source of electricity is called insulator.
For example, alcohol, ether, sugar, starch, wool, fur etc.
8. How can you use gold leaf electroscope to detect the
charge on a
body?
Ans. Gold leaf electroscope (G.L.E) is used to detect the charge
on a
body.
Take a glass rod and rub it with silk. Touch the rubbed end
of
the
glass rod with the disc of G.L.E. It is seen that leaf of G.L.E.
diverges
outward.
When the glass rod touches the
brass
disc of G.L.E, then free electrons
from
it flow to the glass rod. This
causes
a
deficiency of electrons on the

brass
disc. To make up for this
deficiency
the electrons from leaves
flow
to
wards the disc. This, in turn,
causes
electron deficiency on the
leaves.
As
leaves are positively charged,
they
repel each other, and hence
diverge.
Thus, we can say that if a body, on touching disc of gold
leaf
electroscope makes its leaves diverge, then that body is
charged. 9. How can you use gold leaf electroscope to
detect the nature of
charge on a body?
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Ans. We take a G.L.E. and charge it positively or negatively by

touching
its disc with a charged rod. Suppose we have a negatively
charged G.L.E. Now touch the given charged body to the
disc of negatively charged G.L.E.
If the leaves of G.L.E. diverge
further,
then the body is negatively
charged.
It is because, similar charges repel
each
other.
If the leaves of G.L.E. collapse,
then the body is positively
charged. It is because some
charges
from
negatively
charged G.L.E. will flow to
the positively charged body.
10. (a) State the charge present on the glass rod and silk when
rubbed
with each other
(b) State the charge present on the ebonite rod and cats
skin when
rubbed with each other.
Ans. (a) Glass rod gets positively charged and silk gains
electrons so
gets negatively charged after rubbing.
(b) Ebonite rod gets negatively charged and cats skin gets
positively
charged when rubbed with each other.
11. What is an electroscope? Draw a neat diagram of gold
leaf
electroscope.
Ans. An electroscope is a device used for detecting electric
charges, and
finding the nature of electric charges.
Gold leaf electroscope

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12. What causes thunder and lightning?

Ans. When two clouds carrying opposite charges approach each
other, a
charge flows from one to the other through the air. This
electrical
discharge which can be seen as a dazzling flash of light is
called
lightning.
When lightning occurs the air suddenly gets very hot and
expands. It subsequently cools and contracts. This sudden
and tremendous expansion and contraction of air produces
an explosion of loud sound which is called thunder.
13. Explain how a lightning conductor works?
Ans. A lightening conductor is made of copper rod, on the one
end of
which are provided sharp copper points. It is installed on the
highest
point of the building. Its lower end is connected to a thick
copper
strip which is attached to flat copper plate and buried deep
inside
the earth.
When lightning strikes the sharp points of lightning conducto,
all the electric discharge flows into the earth through the
copper rod wire, without damaging the building.

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