Question

If a polythene rod is rubbed with a dry cloth, what kind of charge would it gain? A) positive, due to extra protons. B) positive, due to electrons lost.
B) negative, due to protons lost. D) negative, due to extra electrons.

Answer 1

Answer:

D) negative, due to extra electrons.

Explanation:

The charge that would be gained will be negative charges due to extra electrons.

Electrons are usually lost or gained by bodies that comes in contact with one another.

They occupy the orbital space in an atom and are not strongly held by forces within the atom.

Protons cannot be lost in such manner. They occupy the nucleus and are bounded by strong chemical forces within it.

The polythene and rods are both made up of chemical substances whose units called atoms are made up of subatomic particles of protons, neutrons and electrons. As with all kinds of matter, there would be pool of free electrons round them that can easily be rubbed off due to the weak attractive forces binding them in the atomic sphere.

When the polythene and rods are rubbed, there would be a loss of electrons and the gaining body, polythene becomes negatively charged.