Electricity and Magnetism - I

1. (a) Name the charges produced on each of substances (i) when ebonite rod is
rubbed with cats skin (ii) glass rod is rubbed with silk.
(b) What is your observation when a charged ebonite rod is brought near (i)
freely suspended and charged glass rod (ii) freely suspended and charged
ebonite rod ?
(c)Fill in the blank spaces:
(i) ____________ charges repel each other.
(ii) Opposite charges ____________ each other.
(iii)

A charged ebonite rod ____________ tiny bits of paper.

Ans. (a) (i) Negative charge is produced on ebonite rod.

Positive charge is produced on cats skin.
(ii) Positive charge is produced on glass rod.
Negative charge is produced on silk.
(b) (i) The freely suspended and charged glass rod is attracted towards
ebonite rod.
(ii) The freely suspended and charged ebonite rod is repelled by the
charged ebonite rod.
(c) (i) Like charges repel each other.
(ii) Opposite charges attract each other.
(iii) A charged ebonite rod attracts tiny bits of paper.
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2. On the basis of electron model explain the electrification.

(a) When glass rod is rubbed with silk. (b) When ebonite rod is rubbed
with fur.
Ans. (a) When glass rod is rubbed with silk, some of the free electrons from
glass rod are transferred to silk. Thus, the glass rod has overall less
number of electrons as compared to protons and hence, gets positively
charged. On the other hand, the silk has excess number of electrons as
compared to protons. Thus, silk gets negatively charged.
(b) On rubbing ebonite rod with fur, some of the free electrons from fur are
transferred to ebonite rod. Thus, ebonite rod has excess number of
electrons as compared to protons and hence, gets negatively charged.
On the other hand, as fur has less number of electrons as compared to
protons and hence, gets positively charged.
3. Fill in the blank spaces:
(a) Positive electrification is due to _____________ of electrons as compared
to ____________.
(b) Negative electrification is due to ___________ of electrons as compared
to ___________ .
Ans. (a) Positive electrification is due to deficiency of electrons as compared to
protons.

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(b) Negative electrification is due to excess of electrons as compared to

protons.
4. On the basis of electron model explain :
(a) What are conductors ? Give four examples of conductors.
(b) What are insulators ? Give four examples of insulators.
Ans. (a) The substances which have a very large number of free electrons, such that
they can be made to drift on the application of electric potential are called
conductors.
Examples : silver; copper; aluminium; gold.
(b) The substances which do not have very larger number of free electrons
and which cannot be made to drift on the application of electric potential
are called insulators or bad conductors.
Examples : asbestos; mica; vacuum; glass.
5. Pick out conductors and insulators from the following list:
(i) Graphite (ii) Asbestos (iii) Mica (iv) Copper sulphate solution (v) Alcohol
(vi) Copper (vii) Caustic soda solution (viii) Sulphuric acid solution (ix) Zinc
(x) Lead (xi) Glass (xii) Vacuum (xiii) Benzene (xiv) Aluminium (xv) Starch.
Ans. Conductors : graphite; copper sulphate solution; copper; caustic soda
solution; sulphuric acid sol; zinc; lead; aluminium.
Insulators : asbestos; mica; alcohol, glass; vacuum; benzene, starch.

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6. (a) What is the electrical potential of earth ?

(b) What do you understand by the terms (i) conventional current (ii)
electronic current ? Which amongst the two is real current ?
(c)On the basis of convention, which amongst the positively and negatively
charged body is at a (a) higher potential (b) lower potential?
(d) If a positively charged sphere A is connected to the earth through copper
wire, show the direction of flow of (i) conventional current (ii) electronic
current, by a neat diagram.
(e)If the sphere in (d) is replaced by a negatively charged sphere, by another
diagram show (i) direction of conventional current (ii) direction of electron
current.
Ans. (a) Electric potential of Earth is zero.
(b) The current which flows from positively charged body to negatively
charged body when connected by some conductor is called conventional
current.
The current which flows due to the drift of electrons from negatively
charged body to positively charged body is called electronic current.
The electronic current is the real current because it is the electrons which
drift in a conductor from negative (higher potential) to positive (lower
potential).

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(c) On the basis of convention:

(i) Positively charged body is at higher potential.
(ii) Negatively charged body is at lower potential.

(d)

(e)

7. Name two ways of charging an insulated conductor. State in which of the two
ways, stated by you charge is shared?
Ans. Two ways of charging insulated conductor are :
(i) Conduction

(ii) Induction.

The charges are shared during conduction.

8. Define electric conduction. Describe and explain on electron model, how an
insulated brass sphere is charged positively?
Ans. Electric conduction : When an insulated conductor gets electrically charged
on being touched by a charged body then such a charging is said to take place
due to electric conduction.

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A is a positively charged insulated conductor, such that it has deficiency of

electrons. B is an uncharged insulated conductor such that it has same number
of electrons and protons. However, B certainly has excess number of electrons
as compared to A.
When sphere B is brought in contact with A, then free
electrons from B start flowing into A, till equipotential is
reached. As B loses some electrons, therefore, it gets
positively charged.
9. (a) What do you understand by the term electrostatic induction ?
(b) In this induction charges are not shared. Explain how the body gets
electrically charged.
Ans. (a) The phenomenon due to which an insulated uncharged conductor gets
electrically charged, when held near a charged body is called
electrostatic induction. The charges produced on the insulated uncharged
body are called induced charges.
(b) AB is neutral (uncharged) insulated
conductor, such that number of protons in it
is equal to number of electrons.
When a negatively charged ebonite rod is
held close to end A, it repels free electrons from end

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A towards end B. As end A develops deficiency of electrons, therefore,

it gets positively charged. The end B has excess of electrons and hence,
gets negatively charged.
10. By drawing neat diagrams, explain on the basis of electron model, how
you will charge an insulated cylindrical brass conductor negatively?
Ans.

Fig.

(a) It represents an uncharged insulated brass conductor.

Fig.

(b) When a positively charged rod is brought near end A, it attracts free
electrons from B to A. As A has excess of electrons, it gets negatively
charged. The electrons at end A are bound in nature.
As the end B has deficiency of electrons it gets positively charged. The
charges at B are free in nature.

Fig.

(c) Holding the charged rod in same position, the end B is earthed. The
free electrons from earth flow into end B and hence, discharge it. The
bound electrons at A remain unaffected.

Fig.

(d) When the earth is removed from end B, it remains neutral. End A has
bound negative charges.

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Fig.

(e) When charged rod is removed, the electrons at A are no longer bound.
They spread all over the conductor, charging it negatively.

11. What is an electroscope ? State three uses of electroscope.

Ans. Electroscope : A device which can detect static electric charges is called
electroscope.
Uses of electroscope :
(i) It detects the static electric charges.
(ii) It can find the nature of electric charges.
(iii) It can compare the magnitude of charges on two different bodies.
12. A positively charged rod is brought near the neutral pith ball electroscope.
Describe all what you will observe and explain your observations on the
basis of electron model.
Ans. First of all the pith ball is attracted towards positively charged rod. However,
on making a contact with rod it gets repelled.
Explanation : The positively charged rod attracts electrons from the farther
end of the pith ball to the nearer end. Thus, nearer end of the pith ball gets
negatively charged and the farther end positively charged. As nearer end of
pith ball is closer to positively charged rod, therefore, pith ball moves
towards rod and makes contact with it.

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However, on making contact the charges on nearer end of pith ball flow into
positively charged rod. Thus, positively charged rod now repels positive
charges on the farther end of the pith ball. Thus, pith ball gets repelled.
13. How will you charge a neutral G.L.E. negatively by induction ? Illustrate
your answer by diagrams and explain on the basis of electron model.
Ans.

Fig. (a) : It represents uncharged G.L.E., such that number of electrons in it is

equal to number of protons.
Fig. (b) : When a positively charged rod is brought near the disc of G.L.E, the
positive charges on it attract free electrons from gold leaves to disc. As
the disc has excess of electrons, it gets negatively charged. The electrons
(charges) on disc are bound charges. As the gold leaves have deficiency
of electrons, they get positively charged and hence repel one-another.
Thus, gold leaves diverge. The charges on gold leaves are free in nature.

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Fig. (c) : Holding the positively charged rod in same position, when disc of
G.L.E is earthed the leaves collapse. It is because free electrons from the
earth flows into gold leaves and hence, neutralise its charges. The bound
negative charges on disc remain unaffected.
Fig. (d) : Holding the rod in same position when earth is removed, the gold leaves
remain in collapsed state. The disc has bound negative charges.
Fig. (e) : When positively charged rod is removed the electrons on the disc
become free. Thus, they flow to the gold leaves. As the gold leaves get
negatively charged, they repel each other and hence diverge.
14. How is an electroscope used to detect a charge on a body ?
Ans. Bring a charged body near the disc of G.L.E. If the leaves of G.L.E diverge,
then body is charged.
15. How is gold leaf electroscope used to find nature of charge on an
electrically charged body ?
Ans. Charge a G.L.E negatively. Bring a charged body near its disc. If the leaves
further diverge, then body is negatively charged. However, if leaves
collapse, charge G.L.E positively. Again bring charged body near its disc. If
the leaves diverge, then body is positively charged.

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16. Repulsion is the surest test of electrification. Explain the statement.

Ans. Attraction can be caused under following situations:
(i) When bodies are oppositely charged.
(ii) When one body is charged and other is uncharged.
Repulsion can be caused only when two bodies have similar charges.
Thus, we can say that repulsion is the surest test of electrification.
17. Two metal spheres A and B are suspended from two
silk threads and a positively charged glass rod is held
near A, as shown in diagram.
(i) Describe what will you observe.
(ii) What charge appears on A and B ?
(iii) Explain the appearance of charge on the basis of
electron model.
Ans. (i) The sphere A will be attracted towards positively charged rod and sphere
B will be repelled.
(ii) A has negative charges and B has positive charges.
(iii) The presence of positively charged rod, makes the free electrons from
sphere B to drift to sphere A. As sphere A has excess of electrons,
therefore, it gets negatively charged. Similarly, as the sphere B has
deficiency of electrons, therefore, it gets positively charged.

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18. Diagram alongside shows an uncharged

insulated conductor AB, which is in electrical
contact with gold leaf electroscope plate C. A
negatively charged rod is brought near the end
A. Answer the following questions:
(i) What charge appears at A and why ?
(ii) What charges are present at B, C and D and why ?
(iii) If the negatively charged rod is taken away, state your observation.
Ans. (i) Positive charges appear at A.
The presence of negatively charged rod, repels the electrons from end A
towards end B. As end A develops deficiency of electrons, therefore, it
gets positively charged.
(ii) (a) No charges are present at B as the electrons drift to C.
(b) Negative charges are present at C, D and P because the electrons from
A drift to these points.
(iii) The gold leaves of G.L.E collapse.

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19.A metal sphere X, a cylindrical conductor Y

and a conical conductor Z are mounted on
insulated stands such that they are in
electrical contact. A highly charged ebonite
rod is brought near sphere X. Answer the
following questions:
(i) What will be the charges on X, Y and Z?
(ii) If sphere Z is earthed for a moment and the ebonite rod is
removed, state the charges on X, Y and Z.
(iii) In the presence of ebonite rod, conductors Z and Y are removed. What is
the charge on each of them?
(iv) What will you observe, if a lighted candle is placed near the pointed end of
Z?
(v) The ebonite rod is made to touch X. What charges are on X, Y and Z?
Ans. (i) Charge on X is positive, charge on Y is neutral (no charge ) and charge on
Z is negative.
(ii) X; Y and Z will have positive charges.
(iii) The conductor Z will have negative charge.
The conductor Y will have no charge.
(iv) The flame of candle light will bend away from the pointed end Z.
(v) X; Y; Z will have negative charges.
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20. Describe an experiment to prove that equal and opposite charges are
produced when glass rod is rubbed with silk.
Ans. Mount a silk cap provided with long silk thread on a glass rod. Holding the
cap with hand rub the glass rod in clockwise and anticlockwise direction
alternately for a minute. Test the charge on glass rod and silk cap with equally
charged G.L.E with positive charge and negative charge respectively.
It is noticed that in each case same amount of divergence is produced. Thus,
experiment proves that equal and opposite charges are produced.
21. Describe an experiment to prove that electric charge resides on the outer
surface of conductor.
sAns. Take a butterfly net apparatus and stretch its net by pulling the silk thread.
Rub a charged ebonite rod on the inner surface of net. Take a proof plane and
touch it on the inner side of net. Bring the proof plane near a negatively
charged G.L.E. It is observed that there is no divergence of gold leaves. This
shows that negative charge is not on the inner surface of net.
Now touch the proof plane on the outer surface of net. Test the proof plane
with negatively charged G.L.E. It is observed that gold leaves of G.L.E.
diverge. Thus, experiment proves that charge resides on the outer surface of
conductor.

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22. Describe an experiment to prove that electric charge leaks from pointed
ends of conductor.
Ans. Take a conical conductor mounted on an
insulated stand. Place a lighted candle near its
pointed end such that the flame of candle is in
line with pointed end. It is seen the flame is
steady. Now charge the conical conductor
negatively. It is observed that candle flame
bends away from pointed end, thereby proving
that charge leaks from pointed end.
23. A negatively charged cloud passes over a high rise building. Explain in
detail how lightning strikes.
Ans. The negatively charged cloud induces positive charges on the roof of
building and negative charges at its foundations, which are inside earth. The
positive charges on the roof start leaking from pointed edges to form an
electric wind. Similarly, charges from negatively charged cloud, leak. When
these leaking charges from cloud and building meet, a conducting path is
formed. Thus, suddenly all the charge from cloud leaks to building. This,
leaking charges heat up the air to white hot temperature, which appears as
lightning.

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24. How are high rise buildings protected from lightning ?

Ans. When a charged cloud passes over a high rise building, fitted with lightning
conductor, it induces an opposite charge on the conductor. This charge
rapidly leaks in the air in the direction of cloud, thereby forming a
conducting path. Thus, the charge from the cloud flows through the
conducting path, in the form of lightning. It strikes the lightning conductor.
As lightning conductor is made of thick copper strip whose other end is
buried deep in ground, therefore, the charge of cloud safely gets earthed,
without damaging building.
25. An electroscope is kept about 50 cm away from a
negatively charged body. The cap of the electroscope
is connected to the charged body, first with silk thread
(dry) and then with copper wire, as shown in
diagrams. Copy the diagrams and in each case show
the position of gold leaves (not shown in diagram) and
their charges.

Ans.

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26. (i)Describe what happens when a charged rod is brought close to an

uncharged metal sphere, suspended by a silk thread.
(ii) Explain the above observation.
Ans.(i) The metal sphere is first attracted towards charged rod, but on making a
contact with the rod it gets repelled.
(ii) The charged rod induces an opposite charge on the near face of sphere and
similar charge on the opposite face of sphere due to electrostatic
induction. As, disimilar charges attract each other, therefore, the sphere
moves towards charged rod. However, on making contact its charges are
neutralised. Thus, the charged rod and sphere on the opposite face have
similar charges. Thus, repulsion takes place.
27. Charging by friction is accompanied by the loss or gain of electrons. In the
following cases state, which body loses electrons and which body gains
electrons when (i) a glass rod is rubbed with silk (ii) an ebonite rod is
rubbed with fur.
Ans. Glass rod on rubbing with silk loses electrons.
Ebonite rod on rubbing with fur gains electrons.
28. What causes lightning ?
Ans. The rapidly flowing charge from cloud to earth or vice-versa through air,
which in turn heats air to white hot temperature causes lightning.

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29. How will you differentiate between an insulator and a conductor by using
charged electroscope ?
Ans. The leaves of G.L.E will collapse when touched with conductor, but not in
case of insulator.

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