Electrostatic Series: Does Rubber & Glass Affect Charged Comb?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around a thought experiment involving a charged plastic comb and its interaction with glass and rubber. The hypothesis suggests that the comb will move away from glass and toward rubber due to their differing electronegativities. However, personal experimentation revealed that both materials were attracted to the charged comb, challenging the initial hypothesis. Participants emphasize the value of conducting real experiments to confirm theoretical predictions. The conversation highlights the complexities of electrostatic interactions and the need for practical verification.
jwj11
Messages
37
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



This is just a thought experiment and I wanted to know if my answer is correct.

If I...
1) Tie a string to one of the plastic combs and suspend this comb from the edge of a table
2) Then rub the suspended plastic comb in wool to give it a negative charge
3) and If I bring a piece of glass near the charged suspended comb
4) or if I bring a piece of rubber near the charged suspended comb

Then for the glass I will observe that the charged comb will move away from the glass.

And for the rubber I will observe that the charged comb moves toward the rubber.

This is because glass has low electronegativity and rubber has a high electronegativity on the electrostatic series?

Would my hypothesis be correct?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
hey jwj11,
Why do a thought experiment when you can do a real one. Much more fun and more likely to give the right answer...:wink:
 
because when I did it both of the materials were attracted to the charged comb? How am I suppose to differentiate which is more electronegative?
 
jwj11,

You wrote your hypothesis...
3) and If I bring a piece of glass near the charged suspended comb
4) or if I bring a piece of rubber near the charged suspended comb
Then for the glass I will observe that the charged comb will move away from the glass.
And for the rubber I will observe that the charged comb moves toward the rubber.


and you wrote your experience..
because when I did it both of the materials were attracted to the charged comb

Now what exactly is the problem?
 
Thread 'Collision of a bullet on a rod-string system: query'
In this question, I have a question. I am NOT trying to solve it, but it is just a conceptual question. Consider the point on the rod, which connects the string and the rod. My question: just before and after the collision, is ANGULAR momentum CONSERVED about this point? Lets call the point which connects the string and rod as P. Why am I asking this? : it is clear from the scenario that the point of concern, which connects the string and the rod, moves in a circular path due to the string...
Back
Top