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1 The Rods and Paper Experiment
Figure 1: Screen Shot 2020-08-24 at 4.46.46 PM.png
Scenario 1
- Taking neutral rod + close, positively charged, rod
- Electrons will move from the neutral rod to the charged rod
- Balances the charge out
Scenario 2
- Taking neutral rod + slightly farther, positively charged, rod
- The neutral rod "polarizes", repelling the positively charged protons off to one side while attracting all the electrons towards it
- There is a net force of attraction to the "left" on the example image — towards the charged rod
Recall that per the physicsKBhPHYS201D1AtHomeActivity D1 At home Activity, pieces of paper sometime flow towards the charged rod, then back again. Why?
About how that works…
- The charged rod polarizes the paper
- The paper's newfound positive end attract with the plastic rod's negative end
- The paper has a net positive force towards the rod, so it accelerates towards it
- Electrons, once connected, tries to flow back onto the paper
- The paper neutralizes, then falls to the ground
- Repeat from (1)