Question
When a plastic ball is rubbed with fur, the plastic ball attracts a positively charged pith ball. When a glass rod is rubbed with fur, the glass rod repels the same pith ball. Based on these two observations, which of these will MOST LIKELY gain electrons more readily?
Responses
A fur
B glass
C plastic
D plastic and glass
Responses
A fur
B glass
C plastic
D plastic and glass
Answers
GPT-4o mini
To analyze the situation, we need to understand the charging process through triboelectric effects. When two materials are rubbed together, one typically gains electrons (becoming negatively charged), while the other loses electrons (becoming positively charged).
1. When the plastic ball is rubbed with fur, it gains electrons and becomes negatively charged, while the fur becomes positively charged. This negative charge on the plastic ball attracts the positively charged pith ball.
2. When the glass rod is rubbed with fur, the glass rod loses electrons and becomes positively charged while the fur becomes negatively charged. The positively charged glass rod repels the positively charged pith ball.
From these observations, we can conclude that the plastic ball gains electrons more readily than the glass rod, as it acquires a negative charge when rubbed with fur, which suggests it has a tendency to hold onto electrons. In contrast, the glass rod loses electrons when rubbed with fur, indicating that it has a lower tendency to gain electrons.
Therefore, the correct response is:
**C. plastic**
1. When the plastic ball is rubbed with fur, it gains electrons and becomes negatively charged, while the fur becomes positively charged. This negative charge on the plastic ball attracts the positively charged pith ball.
2. When the glass rod is rubbed with fur, the glass rod loses electrons and becomes positively charged while the fur becomes negatively charged. The positively charged glass rod repels the positively charged pith ball.
From these observations, we can conclude that the plastic ball gains electrons more readily than the glass rod, as it acquires a negative charge when rubbed with fur, which suggests it has a tendency to hold onto electrons. In contrast, the glass rod loses electrons when rubbed with fur, indicating that it has a lower tendency to gain electrons.
Therefore, the correct response is:
**C. plastic**