PHYSICS/GCE O LEVEL STATIC ELECTRICITY Paper 1

Space for Working

1 A metal ball is charged by induction. To do this, a charged rod is held close to one side of the ball and the
other side is earthed.Which diagram shows the charge distribution at this stage of the experiment?

2 Four processes are used to charge an isolated metal sphere.

P The sphere is earthed by touching it.
Q The earth connection is removed from the sphere.
R A charged rod is brought close to the sphere.
S The charged rod is removed.
In which order should these processes be carried out to charge the sphere?

first  last
A P Q R S
B P R S Q
C R P Q S
D R S P Q

3 Two insulated metal spheres X and Y are initially in contact. While a positively charged rod is near
X the spheres are moved apart. After this action X has a negative charge.
The charge on Y will be

A negative and smaller than that on X.

B negative and the same size as that on X.
C positive and smaller than that on X.
D positive and the same size as that on X.

4 Which diagram correctly shows the electric field between two charged spheres?

Physics/GCE O Level The Ultimate Prep with M.Arshad Chaudhry 0300-941-2902

PHYSICS/GCE O LEVEL STATIC ELECTRICITY Paper 1

5 A positively charged rod is brought close to an insulated metal sphere. Which diagram best shows the
induced charges on the sphere? Space for Working

6 On a stormy day, a large, positively-charged cloud is above a tree.

An electrical charge is induced on the tree as charged particles flow through it.

What is the charge induced on the tree and how do the charged particles move?

charge on tree movement of charged particles through tree

A Negative negatively charged particles move down the tree
B Negative negatively charged particles move up the tree
C Positive positively charged particles move down the tree
D Positive positively charged particles move up the tree

7 The diagram shows a positively charged acetate strip and a negatively charged polythene strip that are
freely suspended.

Two rods X and Y are brought up in turn to these two strips. Rod X attracts the acetate strip butrepels the polythene strip. Rod Y
does not repel either the acetate strip or the polythene strip.
Which type of charge is on each rod?

rod X rod Y
A Negative Positive
B Negative Uncharged
C Positive Negative
D Positive Uncharged

Physics/GCE O Level The Ultimate Prep with M.Arshad Chaudhry 0300-941-2902

PHYSICS/GCE O LEVEL STATIC ELECTRICITY Paper 1

8 In an electrostatics experiment, a plastic rod is rubbed with a cloth. The cloth becomes negativelycharged.
Which diagram shows the charge on the rod, and describes the movement of charge? Space for Working

9 Two uncharged metal spheres, not touching one another, are suspended by means of cottonthread. A positively charged rod is
brought near.

Which diagram shows what happens to the spheres?

Physics/GCE O Level The Ultimate Prep with M.Arshad Chaudhry 0300-941-2902

PHYSICS/GCE O LEVEL STATIC ELECTRICITY Paper 1

10 A positively charged insulated metal sphere is brought close to, but not touching, a similar uncharged metal
sphere. Space for Working

Which diagram shows the charge distribution on the spheres?

11 A perspex rod can be charged positively by rubbing it with a woollen cloth.

How does the rod gain its charge?

A The rod gains electrons. B The rod gains protons.

C The rod loses electrons. D The rod loses protons.

12 Which diagram correctly shows the electric field lines between two point charges?

13 A piece of polythene is rubbed with a cloth duster. The polythene becomes negatively charged and the cloth becomes positively
charged.
What happens to the polythene and to the cloth to cause this?

Polythene Cloth
A gains electrons gains protons
B gains electrons loses electrons
C loses protons gains protons
D loses protons loses electrons

14 A negatively-charged balloon is brought towards a wall.Which statement explains what happens?

A Negative charges on the balloon attract the negative charges in the wall.
B Negative charges on the balloon have no effect on the charges in the wall.
C Negative charges on the balloon repel the negative charges in the wall.
D Negative charges on the balloon repel the positive charges in the wall.

Physics/GCE O Level The Ultimate Prep with M.Arshad Chaudhry 0300-941-2902

PHYSICS/GCE O LEVEL STATIC ELECTRICITY Paper 1

15 A negatively-charged rod is brought close to an isolated T-shaped piece of metal. Initially, the metal is
uncharged.Which diagram shows the induced charge on the metal? Space for Working

16 Two metal spheres P and Q are mounted on insulating stands and are touching each other. They are
uncharged.A positively-charged metal sphere on an insulating handle is brought close to P but does not
touch it. This induces charges on P and Q.
The positively-charged metal sphere is held in this
position and sphere Q is moved to the right, away
from sphere P.
What are the signs of the induced charges on P and
Q and how do the sizes of these charges compare?

charge on P charge on Q sizes of thecharges

A negative positive equal
B negative positive unequal
C positive negative equal
D positive negative unequal

17 A negatively-charged sphere X is brought up to an identical uncharged sphere Y. The spheres do not touch.

Sphere Y is ‘earthed’ by touching it with a finger, which is then removed. Sphere X is then moved away from
sphere Y.What is the final charge, if any, on sphere Y?

Physics/GCE O Level The Ultimate Prep with M.Arshad Chaudhry 0300-941-2902

PHYSICS/GCE O LEVEL STATIC ELECTRICITY Paper 1

Space for Working

18 Two metal spheres X and Y are on insulating bases. Both spheres are negatively charged.

Sphere X is moved towards sphere Y until they almost touch.

Which diagram shows the final pattern of charges?

19 A positively-charged insulated metal sphere is brought close to, but does not touch, a similar uncharged
metal sphere.

Which diagram shows the charge distribution on the spheres?

20 A small uncharged metal sphere hangs from an insulating thread.

A negatively-charged rod moves close to the sphere.

Which diagram shows the charges on the sphere and its final position?

Physics/GCE O Level The Ultimate Prep with M.Arshad Chaudhry 0300-941-2902

PHYSICS/GCE O LEVEL STATIC ELECTRICITY Paper 1

21 A student rubs a rod held in his hand.

Which action causes the rod to gain a large electrostatic charge?

A rubbing an iron rod with a steel magnet

B rubbing an iron rod with a woolen duster
C rubbing a polythene rod with a steel magnet
D rubbing a polythene with a woolen duster

ANSWER KEY
1 B 8 A 15 A
2 C 9 A 16 A
3 D 10 D 17 B
4 B 11 C 18 C
5 C 12 B 19 D
6 B 13 B 20 A
7 B 14 C 21 D

Physics/GCE O Level The Ultimate Prep with M.Arshad Chaudhry 0300-941-2902

PHYSICS/GCE O LEVEL STATIC ELECTRICITY Paper 1

DETAILED ANSWERS
1 The positive and negative charges are separated on the metal ball. On earthling, the positive charges are neutralized and
remaining charge is negative.

2 The sequence in choice Cis correct for electrostatic induction to charge an isolated metal sphere.

3 On X and Y opposite charges are induced which are in same magnitude.

On X negative charge is induced
On Y positive charge is induced

4 The electric field lines between like charges produce neutral point. Moreover lines emit out from positivecharges so choice is B.

5 The opposite charges are induced on the ends of metal sphere i.e. negative charge of sphere is attracted towards positively
charged rod.

6 Opposite charges are induced on tree. So negatively charged particles move up the tree to induce negative charges.

7 Unlike charges attract and like charges repel each other.

 Since rod Y does not repel the strips so it is uncharged.

8 When the plastic rod is rubbed with cloth then due to friction electrons are shifted on cloth. With result
Rod acquires positive charge.
Cloth acquires negative charge.

9 The positively charged rod induces opposite charges on the left sphere. This sphere further induces opposite charges on right
sphere. So the spheres are attracted towards rod.

10 Due to positive charges on left sphere, the opposite charges are induced on the right sphere such thatnegative charge in right
sphere is attracted towards positively charged left sphere.

11 On rubbing the rod with cloth, due to friction electrons of the rod are shifted on the cloth leaving behindpositive charges.

12 The electric field lines start from + charge and end on – charge.

13 Polythene gains electrons

Cloth loses electrons

14 Since unlike charges repel each other so negative charges on the balloon repel the negative charges in the wall.

15 The opposite charges are induced on the T-shaped metal such that positive charges reside towardsnegatively charged rod.

16 Equal and opposite charges are induced on metal spheres P and Q.

17 Initially equal and opposite charges are induced on sphere Y.

The negative charges on sphere Y are earthed.
The net charge on sphere Y remains positive.

18 Since like charges repel each other, so negative charges are moved away from each other reaching on the opposite ends of
spheres.

19 The charges on right sphere are induced such that negative charges are towards left end and positive chargesare towards right
end. These charges are equal in size as shown in choice D.

20 On metal sphere, positive charges are induced on left end. With result sphere is attracted towards the negatively charged rod.

21 By rubbing two insulators i.e polythene rod with woollen duster maximum charges are developed.
 Polythene gains electrons.
 Woollen duster loses electrons.

Physics/GCE O Level The Ultimate Prep with M.Arshad Chaudhry 0300-941-2902