Behavior of Electrostatic Charges

Results and Discussion As there were five similar experiments done, there is one common observed behavior – similar charges repel and opposite charges attract. The experiment went expected as there were no unusual observations recorded. In the first part, it was observed that when the plastic rod was rubbed it attracted the tissue bits. The explanation with this is, when the plastic rod was rubbed, it became electrically charged. Conduction happens when the tissue paper was rubbed into the plastic rod. The tissue paper transferred electrons to the plastic rod. The plastic is now in excess of electrons. The tissue bits, on the other hand, are in neutral state. Since, opposite charges attract and similar repel, the electrons of the tissue bits will move away from the rod and the positive charge of the tissue bits will attract to the rod. The second observation was based on rubbing a metal rod with tissue paper. After rubbing the metal rod, there was no tissue bits attracted to it. Conductors – in this case, the metal rod – does not build up charges when they are rubbed. That is why; the metal rod does not attract tissue bits in them. In the second part, there are two plastic sheets observed. They were first held facing each other. There was nothing unusual. As they were both neutral, nothing happened between them – no repulsion or attraction. The two sheets were rubbed against a tissue paper separately. After rubbing, the two sheets gained similar charges. When they were again held facing each other, the two sheets were repelling. As the both sheet was rubbed by a tissue paper under similar circumstances, they both gained the similar charges. That is why; they repelled as they were held facing each other with the rubbed side. The third part is observing the behavior between a plastic sheet and tissue bits in the table. A plain plastic sheet – not rubbed – was placed over the tissue bits. No reaction was observed between the two. The explanation is