Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) · PHYSICS · Section
Charging materials by friction
16 practice questions
Practice questions
1–10 of 16
Question 1
1 mark · Easy
Answer and see the solution →State whether each of the following is a conductor or an insulator: aluminum foil, plastic cup.
Question 2
1 mark · Easy
Answer and see the solution →Give one example of a common material that acts as an electrical insulator.
Question 3
3 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →A student rubs a polythene rod with a dry cloth.
(a)[1 mark]State what happens to the charge on the polythene rod after rubbing.
(b)[1 mark]State which particle moves to create the charge.
(c)[1 mark]Does the polythene rod gain or lose electrons? Explain briefly.
Question 4
2 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →Describe a practical method to show that a plastic pen can be charged by friction.
(a)[1 mark]State one thing you could rub the pen with.
(b)[1 mark]State how you would show the pen is charged after rubbing.
Question 5
2 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →A material becomes positively charged when rubbed. Explain in terms of electrons how this happens.
(a)[1 mark]Does the material gain or lose electrons?
(b)[1 mark]Explain why losing electrons makes the material positively charged.
Question 6
2 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →Explain why metal objects cannot be charged by friction in the same way as plastic rods.
Question 7
2 marks · Easy
Answer and see the solution →Explain what happens, in terms of electrons, when a glass rod is rubbed with a silk cloth.
Question 8
1 mark · Easy
Answer and see the solution →What name is given to a material that allows electricity to flow easily through it?
Question 9
4 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →A student wants to separate conductors from insulators using a test circuit with a lamp.
(a)[1 mark]State two materials that would make the lamp light in this circuit.
(b)[1 mark]State two materials that would NOT make the lamp light in this circuit.
(c)[2 marks]Explain why the materials stated in part (a) are conductors of electricity, while those in part (b) are not.
Question 10
4 marks · Normal
Answer and see the solution →Two students rub a plastic rod with a cloth, then observe that small pieces of paper are attracted to the rod.
(a)[1 mark]State the type of material (conductor or insulator) the plastic rod must be to become charged by friction.
(b)[2 marks]Explain why only certain materials can become charged by friction.
(c)[1 mark]Describe how the rod attracts the small pieces of paper.