Question

directions: identify each of the following as a conductor or an insulator by putting a c or an i in the blank. 1. metal doorknob 2. carpet 3. silver 4. gold 5. wood 6. rubber 7. copper 8. bulletin board 9. clothing 10. plastic 11. metal coat hanger 12. paper clip directions: describe how each of the following pairs of charges will react. 13. positive and positive 14. positive and negative 15. negative and negative directions: answer the following questions in complete sentences. 16. what is an electroscope and how does it work? 17. what is the difference in the charges on a balloon rubbed in your hair and a glass rod rubbed with silk? why?

Explanation:

1. Conductors allow the flow of electric current easily due to free - moving electrons. Metals like metal doorknob, silver, gold, copper, metal coat hanger, paper clip are conductors. Insulators do not allow the flow of electric current easily. Carpet, bulletin board, clothing, wood, rubber, plastic are insulators.
2. Like charges repel each other. So positive and positive charges, negative and negative charges will repel. Opposite charges attract, so positive and negative charges will attract.
3. An electroscope is a device used to detect the presence of electric charge. It works on the principle of repulsion of like charges. When a charged object is brought near the electroscope, the leaves of the electroscope diverge if the object is charged.
4. When a balloon is rubbed in hair, it gains electrons and becomes negatively charged. When a glass rod is rubbed with silk, the glass rod loses electrons and becomes positively charged.

Answer:

1. c
2. i
3. c
4. c
5. i
6. i
7. c
8. i
9. i
10. i
11. c
12. c
13. They will repel each other.
14. They will attract each other.
15. They will repel each other.
16. An electroscope is a device used to detect the presence of electric charge. It works on the principle that like charges repel. When a charged object is brought near the electroscope, the leaves of the electroscope diverge if the object is charged.
17. A balloon rubbed in hair is negatively charged as it gains electrons from the hair. A glass rod rubbed with silk is positively charged as it loses electrons to the silk. The difference is in the type of charge (negative vs positive) due to the transfer of electrons during the rubbing process.