Charging by friction involves what process?

Charging by friction involves what process?

• A. The object becomes magnetized.
• B. Charge is transferred by induction only.
• C. Electrons are rubbed off and transferred; the amount depends on the materials.
• D. Electrons are created at the surface.

Answer: (C)

Charging by friction happens when two insulating materials are rubbed together, allowing electrons to move from one surface to the other. Because different materials hold onto electrons with different strengths, electrons are transferred during the rubbing: the material that loses electrons becomes positively charged, and the material that gains electrons becomes negatively charged. The amount of charge produced depends on the specific pair of materials and how much rubbing/contact occurs (as well as factors like surface roughness and humidity). This differs from magnetization (which involves magnetic properties), induction (which redistributes existing charges without direct transfer), and from creating new electrons—the total charge is conserved and simply moved between the surfaces.

Charging by friction happens when two insulating materials are rubbed together, allowing electrons to move from one surface to the other. Because different materials hold onto electrons with different strengths, electrons are transferred during the rubbing: the material that loses electrons becomes positively charged, and the material that gains electrons becomes negatively charged. The amount of charge produced depends on the specific pair of materials and how much rubbing/contact occurs (as well as factors like surface roughness and humidity). This differs from magnetization (which involves magnetic properties), induction (which redistributes existing charges without direct transfer), and from creating new electrons—the total charge is conserved and simply moved between the surfaces.