Static Electricity | Edexcel GCSE Physics, Higher tier (1PH0)
Static Electricity
- 65 questions
- 4 subtopics
- Paper 2
- Paper 2
Static Electricity is examined in Paper 2, Physics 2.
It covers charging by friction, and attraction and repulsion, electrostatic phenomena and earthing, uses and dangers of static electricity and electric fields.
Sample questions from Static Electricity
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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Charging by friction, and attraction and repulsion
Explain why an acetate rod and a cloth must be rubbed together rather than simply touched once to charge the rod.
Show the answer
Rubbing brings the surfaces into close contact many times, so far more electrons are transferred. -
Charging by friction, and attraction and repulsion
State what happens when two negatively charged spheres are brought close together.
Show the answer
They repel each other. -
Electrostatic phenomena and earthing
Explain why a balloon charged by rubbing sticks to a wall that has no overall charge.
Show the answer
The balloon repels like charges deeper into the wall, leaving an opposite charge on the surface that attracts the balloon. -
Electrostatic phenomena and earthing
Describe the movement of electrons when a positively charged metal object is earthed.
Show the answer
Electrons flow from the earth onto the object until the object is neutral. -
Uses and dangers of static electricity
In electrostatic paint spraying the droplets are charged and the object is given the opposite charge. Explain why this gives an even coat.
Show the answer
The droplets repel each other and are attracted to every part of the object, including the far side. -
Uses and dangers of static electricity
Explain how a spark is produced when a large charge builds up on an object.
Show the answer
The potential difference becomes large enough for the air to conduct, and electrons jump across the gap. -
Electric fields
State the direction of the electric field lines around an isolated negative point charge.
Show the answer
They point radially inwards, towards the charge. -
Electric fields
Explain, in terms of electric fields, why two rods carrying the same charge push each other apart.
Show the answer
Each rod sits in the electric field of the other, and that field exerts a force on its charge.
The 4 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Charging by friction, and attraction and repulsion | Electrons moving when insulators are rubbed, why metals held in the hand do not charge, equal and opposite charges, and attraction and repulsion between charged rods, spheres and balloons. | 19 |
| Electrostatic phenomena and earthing | Shocks from carpets and car doors, charging thunderclouds and lightning, balloons, combs and paper attracted by induction, and earthing charged objects, with the direction electrons flow and why the connection must conduct. | 14 |
| Uses and dangers of static electricity | Electrostatic crop and paint spraying, precipitators removing smoke particles, the danger of sparks during refuelling and in operating theatres, and earthing tankers and aircraft. | 13 |
| Electric fields | What an electric field is and what produces one, the field patterns around a point charge and between parallel plates, field strength from line spacing, and fields explaining sparks and lightning conductors. | 19 |
How the guide is worked
Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.
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Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
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Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
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Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.
Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.
Nearby topics
Edexcel GCSE Physics, Higher tier Active Recall Guide
Every topic, not just this one. 2,063 questions with their answers.