Question: When a balloon is rubbed with fur, it becomes negatively charged. Explain why?

When a balloon is rubbed with fur, it becomes negatively charged due to a phenomenon called triboelectricity. Triboelectricity is the transfer of electrons between two different materials when they come into contact and then separate.

To understand why the balloon becomes negatively charged, let's break down the process step by step:

1. The balloon and the fur have different electron configurations. In other words, they have different abilities to attract and hold electrons.

2. When the balloon is rubbed against the fur, the two materials come into contact. During this contact, electrons can be transferred from one material to the other.

3. Some materials have a higher affinity for electrons (they attract and hold electrons more strongly), while others are more likely to give up electrons.

4. In the case of rubbing a balloon against fur, the balloon (typically made of rubber or latex) has a higher affinity for electrons compared to the fur. So, as the two materials come into contact, some of the electrons from the fur are transferred to the balloon's surface.

5. Due to this transfer of electrons, the balloon gains extra electrons and becomes negatively charged. This means it has an excess of electrons compared to its usual neutral state.

It's also important to note that the fur gains a positive charge during this process. The transferred electrons leave the fur with a deficiency of electrons, resulting in a positive charge.

So, when you rub a balloon with fur, the balloon becomes negatively charged because the electrons from the fur are transferred to the balloon's surface, creating an imbalance of charges.