Question

Give a reason for the following.

When a glass rod is rubbed with silk cloth both get charged.

Answer 1

Reason:

When a glass rod is rubbed with a silk cloth the free electrons in the glass rod are transferred to the silk cloth. It is because the free electrons in the glass rod are less tightly bound as compared to that in silk cloth. Since the glass rod loses electrons, it has a deficiency of electrons and hence acquires a positive charge. But, the silk cloth has an excess of electrons. So, it becomes negatively charged.