Electricity: Static Electricity

Static Electricity: Audio Guided Solution

Problem 1:

Determine the quantity of charge on …
a. … a plastic tube which has been rubbed with animal fur and gained 3.8x10⁹ electrons.
b. … a vinyl balloon which has been rubbed with animal fur and gained 1.7x10¹² electrons.
c. … an acetate strip which has been rubbed with wool and lost 7.3x10⁸ electrons.

Audio Guided Solution

Habits of an Effective Problem Solver

• Read the problem carefully and develop a mental picture of the physical situation. If necessary, sketch a simple diagram of the physical situation to help you visualize it.
• Identify the known and unknown quantities; record them in an organized manner. A diagram is a great place to record such information. Equate given values to the symbols used to represent the corresponding quantity - e.g., Q₁ = 2.4 μC; Q₂ = 3.8 μC; d = 1.8 m; F_elect = ???.
• Use physics formulas and conceptual reasoning to plot a strategy for solving for the unknown quantity.
• Identify the appropriate formula(s) to use.
• Perform substitutions and algebraic manipulations in order to solve for the unknown quantity.

Read About It!

Get more information on the topic of Static Electricity at The Physics Classroom Tutorial.

• Charge and Charge Interactions

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