Question

8. Bring the balloon in contact with the wall. What happens to the charges in the wall?

Answer 1

When the charged balloon is brought near the wall, it repels some of the negatively charged electrons in that part of the wall. Therefore, that part of the wall is left repelled.

Explanation:  

• Balloons don't stick to walls. However, if you rub the balloon on an appropriate piece of material such as clothing or a wall, electrons are pulled from the other material to the balloon.

• The balloon now as more electrons than normal and therefore has an overall negative charge. Two balloons like this will repel each other.

• The other material now has an overall positive charge. Because opposite charges attract, the balloon will now appear to stick to the other material. If you didn't rub the balloon first, it's charge would be neutral and it wouldn't stick to the wall.