When a plastic rod is rubbed on fur, does it become negitive or positive charge.
Also, is a tinsel positive or negitive charge?
When a plastic rod is rubbed on fur, it acquires an electric charge through a process called triboelectric charging. This process involves the transfer of electrons between the rod and the fur, resulting in the rod becoming charged.
To determine whether the plastic rod becomes positively or negatively charged when rubbed on fur, we need to consider the relative electronegativity of the materials involved.
Fur has a higher electronegativity than most common plastics, meaning it has a higher tendency to attract electrons. When the rod is rubbed against the fur, electrons are transferred from the fur to the rod. As a result, the rod gains an excess of electrons, causing it to become negatively charged.
On the other hand, tinsel, which is typically made from metal-coated plastic, can also acquire an electric charge when rubbed or disturbed. The charge it acquires depends on the specific materials involved. For example, if the tinsel is made of a metal-coated plastic with a higher electronegativity than the plastic rod, the tinsel would acquire a negative charge when rubbed against the rod.
To determine the precise charge of a particular material after rubbing it against another material, you can perform experiments or consult reference tables that detail the relative electronegativities of different materials. These tables rank materials based on their tendency to attract or donate electrons, which helps to predict the charge acquired during triboelectric charging.