Charged Objects and Polarization

Flashcards about charged objects and polarization.

What type of objects can charged objects attract?

Charged objects can attract these types of objects.

In insulators, can electrons move freely?

Electrons (non-conductors) are bonded to the atoms of an insulator and cannot freely move through the substance.

What is Polarization?

The electrostatic power on a neutral insulator through a phenomenon.

What happens when a negatively charged balloon is brought close to an insulator such as paper?

The external charge (negative) repels the electrons in the molecules electrons move away from the charge, but don't move away from the molecules.

What does each molecule have when the balloon repels the electrons in the paper molecules?

Each molecule now has a positive pole or area as well as a negative pole or area: temporary dipoles.

Why is the paper drawn to the balloon?

The paper is drawn to the balloon because opposite charges attract each other.

Why is the paper polarized?

The charge distribution was not even.

Why does the oxygen side of a water molecule obtain a small negative charge, while the hydrogen side obtains a small positive charge?

In a water molecule the two hydrogen atoms are bonded to an oxygen atom. The oxygen atom has eight protons in its nucleus and the hydrogen atom each has only one proton in it's nucleus. Thus oxygen atoms have a stronger attraction to the electrons in the molecule than those of the hydrogen atoms do.

What happens when a negatively charged balloon is held near a water jet?

The water molecules rotate so that their positive sides (poles) point in the direction of the balloon.

What happens to charges when you rub a neutral object with another neutral object?

Charge is neither created nor destroyed, they are only separated.

Charge is conserved and is known as what?

The Conservation of Electric Charge

How can charge be created or distroyed?

Charge cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be transferred, thus, the algebraic sum of the charges in an isolated system stays constant.

What is an Isolated System?

A system in which there is no external disturbance, i.e. there is no other charged or uncharged object in the vicinity and therefore no leakage of charge.

What happens when you use cloth to rub a neutral ruler?

Negative charge (electrons) is transferred from the cloth to the ruler. This ruler is now negatively charged and the cloth is positively charged.