Name……………………..

Static Questions
/36

Q1.
A student did an experiment with two strips of polythene. She held the strips together at
one end. She rubbed down one strip with a dry cloth. Then she rubbed down the other
strip with the dry cloth. Still holding the top ends together, she held up the strips.

(a) (i) What movement would you expect to see?

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(ii) Why do the strips move in this way?

______________________________________________________________
(2)

(b) Complete the four spaces in the passage.

Each strip has a negative charge. The cloth is left with a______________________

charge. This is because particles called _________________ have been transferred

from the __________________ to the ____________________ .

(4)

Page 1 of 12
 (c) The student tried the experiment using two strips of aluminium. The strips did not
move.

Complete each of the sentences.

(i) Materials, such as aluminium, which electricity will pass through easily, are

called ____________________ .
(1)

(ii) Materials, such as polythene which electricity will not pass through easily, are

called _____________________ .
(1)
(Total 9 marks)

Q2.
You wash and dry your hair, then comb it with a plastic comb. As you move the comb
away from your head some hairs are attracted to the comb.

(a) What has happened to the comb to make it attract the hairs?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(b) If the comb is now held above some small pieces of dry tissue paper what is likely
to happen?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(1)

(c) If you rub your hands all over the comb it will no longer attract your hair.
Explain why.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 4 marks)

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Q3.
Figure 1 shows a student walking on a carpet.

Figure 1

(a) The student becomes negatively charged because of the friction between her socks
and the carpet.

Explain why the friction causes the student to become charged.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

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(b) The student’s head is represented by the sphere in Figure 2.

The student is negatively charged. The arrow shows part of the electric field around
the student’s head.

Draw three more arrows on Figure 2 to complete the electric field pattern.

Figure 2

(1)

(c) The negatively charged student touches a metal tap and receives an electric shock.

Explain why.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)

(d) Some carpets have thin copper wires running through them. The student is less
likely to receive an electric shock after walking on this type of carpet.

Suggest why.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)
(Total 8 marks)

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Q4.
During car journeys, the driver will often become electrostatically charged.

This is more noticeable on dry days than on damp, humid days.

(a) Explain what happens to cause the driver to become charged.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(b) Scientists were asked to find out whether the build-up of charge on the driver
depends on the type of material used to make the driver’s clothes. The results of the
investigation are given in the table.

Charge on the driver

Material Humidity Temperature in C
in millicoulombs

Nylon 48% 18 3.0 to 3.2

Wool 48% 18 2.4 to 2.5

Cotton 48% 18 1.4 to 1.7

Humidity is a measure of how much water vapour the air can hold.

(i) Why was it important that the scientists controlled the humidity?

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)

(ii) Does the data in the table show that the charge on the driver would always be
less if they were to wear cotton clothing?

Give a reason for your answer.

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
(1)
(Total 4 marks)

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Q5.
Figure 1 shows a Van de Graaff generator that is used to investigate static electricity.

Before it is switched on, the metal dome has no net charge.

After it is switched on, the metal dome becomes positively charged.

Figure 1

© Michael Priest

(a) Explain how an uncharged object may become positively charged.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(3)

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(b) Figure 2 shows a plan view of the positively charged metal dome of a Van de Graaff
generator.

Draw the electric field pattern around the metal dome when it is isolated from its
surroundings.

Use arrows to show the direction of the electric field.

Figure 2

(2)

(c) Another positively charged object is placed in the electric field.

Look at Figure 3.

Figure 3

In which position would the object experience the greatest force?

Tick one box.

Page 7 of 12
 (1)
(Total 6 marks)

Q6.
(a) The diagram shows a student touching the metal dome of a Van de Graaff
generator.
When the generator is switched on, the metal dome becomes negatively charged.

Explain why the student’s hair stands on end when the generator is switched on.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________
(2)

(b) When the potential difference between the student and a nearby earthed metal
dome reached 15 kV, a spark jumped between the student and the earthed dome.
The spark transformed 30 mJ of energy into heat, light and sound. (1 mJ = 0.001 J)

Calculate the charge carried by the spark.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Charge transferred =_________________________ coulombs

(2)

(c) What name is given to the rate of flow of charge?

___________________________________________________________________
(1)
(Total 5 marks)

Page 8 of 12
Mark schemes

Q1.
(a) (i) (bottom or other ends) move apart or
repel
accept they move apart
1

(ii) have same charge

accept both have negative charge
(from part (b) do not credit both have positive charge

same or like charges repel

not just opposite charges attract
2

(b) positive
1

electrons
1

cloth
1

polythene
accept strips
1

(c) (i) conductors

accept metals
1

(ii) insulators
accept non-conductors/poor conductors do not credit
non-metals
1
[9]

Q2.
(a) becomes (electrically) charged or description of electron movement
for 1 mark
1

(b) comb attracts paper

for 1 mark
1

(c) charge/electricity gone to Earth/body

for 1 mark each
2
[4]

Page 9 of 12
Q3.
(a) transfer of electrons
mention of positive charge moving negates both
marks
1

from the carpet to the student

1

(b) three arrows perpendicular to sphere’s surface with all arrows directed inwards
and distributed evenly around sphere
1

(c) there is a potential difference between the student and the tap
do not accept the tap / sink is charged
1

which causes electrons / charges to transfer from the student

or
which causes electrons / charges to transfer to the tap
1

which earths the charge

allow the tap is earthed
1

(d) carpet / copper has a low resistance

allow carpet is a conductor
or
copper is a conductor
1

lower / no build-up of charge (on the student)

or
(so there is a) smaller / no potential difference between student and tap / earth
1
[8]

Q4.
(a) clothing and seat rub together
accept friction between clothing and seat
1

electrons transfer from seat to driver

or

electrons transfer from driver to seat

accept electrons transfer on its own if first mark scores
an answer in terms of rubbing, between clothing and seat
and charge transfer without mention of electrons gains 1
mark
an answer in terms of friction / rubbing and electron transfer
without mention of clothing and seat gains 1 mark
1

Page 10 of 12
 (b) (i) how wet the air is affects charge (build up)
accept humidity affects charge

or

damp air is a better conductor

or

damp air has a lower resistance

do not accept fair test or as a control unless explained
1

(ii) No – it was only the lowest under these conditions

accept answer in terms of changing the conditions may
change the results

or

No – there are lots of other materials that were not tested

or

Yes – the highest value for cotton is smaller than the lowest value for
the other materials
do not accept results show that it is always less / smallest
1
[4]

Q5.
(a) negatively charged
1

electrons are transferred

1

from the (neutral) object

1

(b) minimum of four lines drawn perpendicular to surface of sphere

judge by eye
1

minimum of one arrow shown pointing away from sphere

do not accept any arrow pointing inwards.
1

(c) Q
1
[6]

Q6.
(a) each hair gains the same (type of) charge
or
(each) hair is negatively charged

Page 11 of 12
 do not accept hair becomes positively charged
or
(each) hair gains electrons
1

similar charges repel

accept positive charges repel
providing first marking point is in terms of positive charge
or
negative charges repel
or
electrons repel
1

(b) 0.000002
accept correct substitution and transformation for 1 mark
or
2 × 10-6
ie 30 / 15 or .03 / 15000 or 30 / 15000 or .03 / 15
or
2μC
answers 2 and 0.002 gain 1 mark
2

(c) current
do not accept amp / amperes
1
[5]

Page 12 of 12