When you rub a glass rod with silk you electrically charge the glass rod (and the silk). Likewise, when you rub a plastic rod with fur you electrically charge the plastic rod (and the fur). However, when you place the charged rods near each other you notice that they attract. What can you conclude about the sign of the charge on each? Can you determine just from this experiment the sign of the charge on each rod? Yes, they have equal charges, either positive or negative. Yes, the have opposite charges, the glass rod is negative and the plastic rod is positive. Yes, the have opposite charges, the plastic rod is negative and the glass rod is positive. If the two rods attract each other, then we can conclude that they have opposite charges. However, we cannot conclude from this experiment alone which one is negative and which one is positive. SInce the two rods attract each other they must have like charges, because like charges attract. However, we cannot determine the sign.

Principles of Physics: A Calculus-Based Text
5th Edition
ISBN:9781133104261
Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Publisher:Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Chapter19: Electric Forces And Electric Fields
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 62P
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When you rub a glass rod with silk you electrically charge the glass rod (and the silk). Likewise, when you rub a plastic rod with fur you electrically charge the plastic rod (and the fur). However, when you place the charged rods near each other you notice that they attract. What can you conclude about the sign of the charge on each? Can you determine just from this experiment the sign of the charge on each rod?

   

Yes, they have equal charges, either positive or negative.

   

Yes, the have opposite charges, the glass rod is negative and the plastic rod is positive.

   

Yes, the have opposite charges, the plastic rod is negative and the glass rod is positive.

   

If the two rods attract each other, then we can conclude that they have opposite charges. However, we cannot conclude from this experiment alone which one is negative and which one is positive.

   

SInce the two rods attract each other they must have like charges, because like charges attract. However, we cannot determine the sign.

   

No conclusion can be made without knowing the magnitude of the charges.

   

The sign of the charge can be determined calculating the acceleration.

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