Question

a silk cloth gains electrons when rubbed over a glass rod. a different glass rod gains electrons when rubbed with rabbit fur. what will happen if the two charged glass rods approach one another and why?
a. the rods will repel each other because they have unlike charges.
b. there will be no reaction between the rods.
c. the rods will attract each other because they are both positively - charged.
d. the rods will attract each other because they have unlike charges.
e. the rods will repel each other because they have like charges.

Explanation:

When the silk cloth rubs the glass rod, the glass rod loses electrons and becomes positively - charged. When the rabbit fur rubs the glass rod, the glass rod gains electrons and becomes negatively - charged. Opposite charges attract and like charges repel. Since both glass rods have the same type of charge (either both positive or both negative depending on the electron - transfer process), they will repel each other.

Answer:

E. The rods will repel each other because they have like charges.