Page 13 - Physics_Form_2

Static electricity

Procedure Activity 1.3
1. Tear a sheet of tissue paper into
several small pieces and lay them Aim: To show the existence of
on a table. opposite charges

2. Rub a plastic pen through your hair.
FOR ONLINE READING ONLY
3. Bring the pen closer to the pieces Materials: water, plastic pen, plastic
comb, human hair
of paper, but do not touch them as
shown in Figure 1.7. Procedure
4. Hold the pen for 15 seconds. 1. Rub a comb with your hair.

5. Record your observations. 2. Bring the comb close to a small, slow
stream of water coming from a tap

Questions as shown in Figure 1.8 (b).
(a) What happened when the pen was Questions
brought closer to the pieces of paper?

(b) What happened to the pieces of paper (a) What did you observe after rubbing
the comb with the hair?
on the pen after holding it for 15
seconds? (b) What types of charges were in the
(c) Discuss your observations. water?

Tap
Small pieces
of paper Comb
Slow
stream Hand
Plastic pen of water

Figure 1.7: Charged plastic pen attracts
pieces of paper
(a) (b)

The pen picked up pieces of paper, which Figure 1.8: Slow stream of water is
were dropped off after some time. This attracted to the comb
shows that a plastic pen rubbed with Fundamental law of static electricity
human hair acquires a charge that can
attract other substances, such as pieces The fundamental law of static electricity,
of paper. After a few seconds, pieces of also known as the first law of electrostatics,
paper fall off because they acquire similar states that, "like charges repel, unlike
charges to the pen. charges attract".

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Physics Form 2 Final.indd 7 25/10/2025 10:25