Investigating Electrostatic Charging

Investigating Electrostatic Charging is a free interactive simulation of static electricity for GCSE Physics (Edexcel IGCSE 4PH1). Students rub polythene and acetate rods with a cloth and observe how the charged rods attract or repel each other to investigate the forces between charged objects. This is a required practical for Edexcel IGCSE 4PH1. No login required — includes a worksheet and self-marking quiz.

Aim: To find out what types of forces there are between objects charged with static electricity.

Results Table

# Suspended rod Hand-held rod Attract or repel? Same or different charge?
1 Polythene Polythene
2 Acetate Acetate
3 Polythene Acetate
4 Acetate Polythene
  1. Choose a material for the suspended rod (Polythene or Acetate) and click Rub with cloth to charge it.
  2. Choose a material for the hand-held rod and rub it with the cloth too.
  3. Drag the hand-held rod toward the suspended rod and watch how it reacts — the closer you bring it, the stronger the effect.
  4. Record your observation in the results table — select Attract or Repel, and whether the charges are the Same or Different.
  5. Click Reset and repeat for all four combinations of rod materials shown in the table.
  6. When you have completed all four rows, click Check Answers to see if you are correct.
  7. Looking down your completed table, what pattern connects the type of charge on each rod (same or different) to whether they attract or repel?
  8. Polythene becomes negatively charged and acetate becomes positively charged when rubbed with the cloth. In terms of electrons, explain why rubbing leaves one rod negative and the other positive.