Question

A person rubbed two glass rods using a silk cloth. Turns out that the glass rods started to move away from each other slightly when they were placed together. What could be the possible reason?

• A. They could have been pushed by an external mechanical force.
• B. They could have acquired like charges.
• C. They could have acquired unlike charges.
• D. None of the above.

Answer 1

The correct option is B

They could have acquired like charges.

We know that like charges repel and opposite charges attract each other. The rods acquire same nature of charges when they are rubbed by the silk cloth (i.e. positive). Hence, when they are placed close to each other, like charges come together and as a result, they tend to repel each other.