A student rubs a plastic comb with a cloth. The comb becomes negatively charged.
The student holds the comb just above some small pieces of uncharged paper. The pieces of paper jump up to the comb.
Explain why the uncharged pieces of paper are attracted to the comb.
Use the idea of an electric field in your answer.
Another student says:
'The paper must be positively charged, because it is attracted to the negative comb.'
Explain why this student is wrong.
The comb does not pick up the pieces of paper when it is held 30 cm above them.
Explain why.
80 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Physics 11.2 Uses, dangers and electric fields, covering 11.2.1 Uses of electrostatic charge, 11.2.2 Dangers of sparking, 11.2.3 Electric fields, and 11.2.4 Electric fields and static electricity. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.