Explain how objects can get charged by Friction.

When objects come into contact and rub against each other, they can transfer electrons from one object to another through a process called friction. This is known as charging by friction. To understand how this works, we need to understand the concept of electrons and electric charge.

Atoms, the building blocks of matter, consist of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons have a positive charge, neutrons have no charge, and electrons have a negative charge. Normally, an atom has an equal number of protons and electrons, making it electrically neutral.

When two objects rub against each other, their surfaces come into contact. During this contact, the outermost electrons of the atoms in the material on one object can be transferred to the other object. The type of material and the degree to which it attracts electrons determines whether electrons move from one object to the other.

For example, when you rub a plastic pen against your hair, some electrons can be transferred from your hair to the pen. Hair tends to lose electrons easily, gaining a positive charge, while plastic tends to gain electrons, acquiring a negative charge. This creates a separation of charges, resulting in a positively charged object (hair) and a negatively charged object (pen).

The transfer of electrons during friction occurs due to the difference in electronegativity between the materials. Electronegativity refers to the tendency of an atom to attract electrons. Materials with a high electronegativity attract electrons more strongly, leading to a net gain of electrons and a negative charge. Conversely, materials with a low electronegativity lose electrons more easily, resulting in a positive charge.

It's important to note that the charging effect through friction is temporary unless the charged objects are insulated or separated from each other. Otherwise, the charges will quickly neutralize by coming into contact with other objects that can balance the charge.

To summarize, the process of charging objects by friction occurs when electrons are transferred from one material to another during the rubbing process. This transfer happens due to differences in electronegativity, leading to a separation of charges and the generation of a positive or negative charge on the objects involved.