Experiment 13: Electrostatics

Figure 13.1

EQUIPMENT

Ebonite Rod (Hard Rubber)Glass Rod (or Lucite Rod)Rabbit FurPlastic FilmSilkElectroscopeMatches

Front Table

Hair DryerRubbing AlcoholPaper Towels

67

68 Experiment 13: Electrostatics

Advance Reading

Text: Law of conservation of electric charge, electro-static charge, electron, proton, neutron, atomic model,free electrons, ions, polarization, conductor, insulator,conduction, induction, plasma.

Objective

The objective of this lab is to qualitatively study con-ducting and insulating materials, electric charges, andcharge transfer.

Theory

There are two kinds of charges in nature: positivecharge carried by protons and negative charge carriedby electrons. An object that has an excess of either issaid to be charged. Like charges repel each other, andunlike charges attract.

Charge transfer is the exchange of charges between ob-jects. In this experiment, only electrons are exchangedwhile protons remain stationary. These electrons maymove around within materials or move between materi-als, but they can never be created or destroyed. This isknown as the law of conservation of charge. Thelaw of conservation of electric charge states that thenet amount of electric charge produced in any processis zero.

A conductor is a material in which some looselybound electrons can move freely (free electrons) whileprotons are tightly bound within the nucleus. An in-sulator is a material in which both electrons and pro-tons are tightly bound. Conductors and insulatorshave the following properties:

Conductors• Conductors are objects that allow the free flowof electrons throughout the object.

• Charges are easily transferred between conduc-tors.

• Charge can collect at one end of an object in thepresence of other charged objects.

Insulators• An insulator is a material in which electrons aretightly bound to the nucleus.

• Transferring charge between insulators requiresa force, e.g. friction, and direct contact.

• Insulators brought near other charged objects ex-perience polarization, a shifting of electrons toone side of an atom. (Fig. 13.2)

In this experiment, a glass rod or an ebonite rod (insu-lators) will be electrically charged by rubbing againstanother insulating material. Whether the rod gainsor loses electrons will depend on the combination ofmaterials used (refer to the electrostatic series pro-vided in Table 13.1 on Page 69). The charged rod willbe used to charge an electroscope (a conductor thatindicates whether it is charged) by means of conduc-tion and by means of induction.

To charge by conduction: Bring a charged rod closeto, then touch, the electroscope. As the rod nears theelectroscope, the free electrons in the electroscope areeither attracted to or repelled by the charged rod (in-duction). When you touch the rod to the electroscope,the electroscope becomes charged as electrons transferto (or from) the electroscope (charge transfer).

To charge by induction: Bring a charged rod close to,but do not touch, the electroscope. While holding therod near the electroscope (induction), touch the oppo-site side of the electroscope with the tip of your finger(charge transfer). Your body will act as a reservoirof charge (ground), either giving or receiving electronsto the electroscope. Remove your finger before movingthe rod from the proximity of the electroscope.

In Part 3, the e↵ects of plasma on a charged elec-troscope will be observed. Plasma is an ionized gascontaining positive ions and free electrons. Plasmais found in our upper atmosphere, inside fluorescentlights, and surrounding the flame of a match.

Atom charge distribution, normal

Atom charge distribution, polarized

Figure 13.2: Polarization

Experiment 13: Electrostatics 69

Table 13.1: Electrostatic Series

70 Prelab 13: Electrostatics

Name:

1. What are the objectives of this experiment? (5 pts.)

2. There are only two types of electric charge. Electrons carry a charge,

and protons carry a charge. (5 pts.)

3. What is conservation of charge? (20 pts.)

4. Assuming both objects are initially neutral, use the concept of conservation of charge to explain what happenswhen an ebonite rod is rubbed with rabbit fur. (20 pts.)

5. Define the following: (10 pts. each)

• conductor

• insulator

• conduction

• induction

• polarize

Experiment 13: Electrostatics 71

PROCEDURE

PART 1: Charging by ConductionNegative by Conduction

1. Charge a rod negatively by rubbing it with a mate-rial that will give it extra electrons.

2. Bring the negatively charged rod close to the elec-troscope bulb without touching it. Observe how theleaves of the electroscope repel each other.

3. Touch the charged rod to the electroscope. Observethe behavior or the electroscope during conductionand as you remove the rod.

4. Draw a series of sketches showing the movement ofcharges during this process.

Positive by Conduction

5. Charge the electroscope positively by conductionusing a glass rod.

6. Sketch the various stages of this process.

PART 2: Charging by Induction

Positive by Induction

7. Bring a negatively charged rod close to the electro-scope, but do not touch it.

8. While the electroscope’s leaves are separated, touchthe electroscope bulb with your finger to ground it.Remove your finger.

9. Remove the charged rod from the vicinity of theelectroscope; observe its final state.

10. Draw a series of sketches showing the movement ofcharges during this process.

Negative by Induction

11. Charge the electroscope negatively by induction.Which rod will be required?

12. Sketch the various stages of this process.

PART 3: Electroscope and Plasma

13. Apply a charge to the electroscope by a method ofyour choosing.

14. Light a match and hold it near the electroscope,observing its behavior.

15. Sketch this process.

QUESTIONS

1. What is meant by conservation of charge?

2. Why do charged balloons cling to a wall, which isalso an insulator and has a neutral charge?

3. Explain the di↵erence between an insulator and aconductor. Give 3 examples of each.

4. Is the fur positively or negatively charged aftercharging an ebonite rod?