Static Electricity Question, pls help!

SgStudentStressed SG

This is what i dont understand: in the textbook, it is stated that when charging by induction, electrons move from one sphere to another. but i dont understand if its onli the negatively charged surface electrons that move from one sphere to another or electrons from all around the sphere.

At first i thought that it was onli the surface electrons that moved, but when i did some physics questions there was a question on 2 wires connected to a power source. so then i was wondering if in a copper wire, is it like onli the surface electrons move around or all the electrons.

if its all the electrons, then y when we do charging by induction, onli some electrons are repelled all the ways to the end of the other sphere which is not facing the postive strip or positive something. i mean since electrons can be repelled all the way to the other side, the shouldnt it be strong enuff to repell ALL the electrons on the sphere? So this causes me to go back to the original mindset that onli the surface electrons in both insulators and conductors transfer from one another.

pls explain this for me thanks :D

FireIce SG

pls dedicate a thread to urself for all ur qns.

Loor SG

The only thing i know about static elec. is that you can zap someone with the end of your finger if you rub your feet/shoes along the carpet long enough.

Also your hair will stick to the balloon if you rub it against the hair a little bit.

Don't write this as the your answer for your HW.....

SgStudentStressed SG

fireIce do u mean make a forum?

eagle SG

I don't understand you. Please make your question clearer.

CaiHongRainx SG

He meant that in static electricity charging by induction, not all of the electrons move from one sphere to another. Why is that so? He also mention that only the surface electrons, which means electrons that are near the surface(?), move from one sphere to another.

Btw, Im also a sec 4 student, and Im quite surprised with this qn too LOL.

eagle SG

Electrons in a charged conductor will tend to move as far away from each other as possible. It's like when people go into an empty MRT train, most sit at the very ends, furtherest away from each other.

The furthest that electrons can move is to the surface, hence "only surface electrons move".

Not all the electrons will move because when two charged conductors touch, it becomes like a larger conductor. So electrons will spread themselves out again as far as possible over the surfaces of both conductors. There is no electrons in the centre of a conductor (for O levels only).