Gillian is investigating the distribution of charge in objects using friction. Gillian gently rubs a rubber balloon on the fur of her pet cat. When she pulls the balloon away from the cat's fur, the fur is attracted to the balloon. Which best explains why the fur becomes attracted to the balloon?
A.
Rubbing the balloon along the cat transfers extra protons from the balloon to the cat.
B.
Rubbing the balloon along the cat transfers extra electrons from the cat to the balloon.
C.
Rubbing the balloon along the cat creates extra protons that will stick to both the balloon and cat.
D.
Rubbing the balloon along the cat creates extra electrons that will stick to both the balloon and cat.
1 answer
The correct answer is:
B. Rubbing the balloon along the cat transfers extra electrons from the cat to the balloon.
When Gillian rubs the rubber balloon on the cat's fur, electrons are transferred from the cat's fur to the balloon, giving the balloon a negative charge and leaving the cat with a positive charge. The opposite charges (the negatively charged balloon and the positively charged cat fur) result in an attractive force between them.
