How to get to know whether a substance is positively charged or negatively charged after rubbing it ? Explain.

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Solution

By using triboelectric series we can determine whether a substance is positively charged or negatively charged after rubbing it .

The Triboelectric Series is a list of materials, showing which have a greater tendency to become positive (+) and which have a greater tendency to become negative (−). The list is a handy tool to determine which combinations of materials create the most static electricity.

Material that gain positive charges

Most (+) charges Air Greatest tendency for giving up electrons and becoming highly positive (+) in charge

Dry human skin Greatest tendency of a solid to give up electrons and becoming highly positive (+) in charge

Leather

Rabbit fur
Fur is often used to create static electricity

Glass
The glass on your TV screen gets charged and collects dust

Moderate (+) charges
Human hair
"Flyaway hair" is a good example of having a moderate positive (+) charge

Nylon

Wool

Lead
A surprise that lead would collect as much static electricity as cat fur

Cat fur

Silk

Aluminum
Gives up some electrons

Least (+) charges
Paper

Materials that are relatively neutral

Cotton
Best for non-static clothes

Steel
Not useful for static electricity

Materials that gain a negative (−) electrical charges
(Tend to attract electrons)

Least (−) charges
Wood
Attracts some electrons, but is almost neutral

Amber

Hard rubber
Some combs are made of hard rubber

Nickel, Copper
Copper brushes used in Wimshurst electrostatic generator

Brass, Silver

Gold, Platinum
It is surprising that these metals attract electrons almost as much as polyester

Polyester
Clothes have static cling

Styrene (Styrofoam)
Packing material seems to stick to everything

Moderate (−) charges
Saran Wrap
You can see how Saran Wrap will stick to things on (+) list

Polyurethane

Polyethylene (like Scotch Tape)
Pull Scotch Tape off (+) surface and it will become charged

Polypropylene

Vinyl (PVC)
Many electrons will collect on PVC surface

Silicon

Most (−) charges
Teflon
Greatest tendency of gathering electrons on its surface and becoming highly negative (−) in charge

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Similar questions

If an object made of substance A is rubbed with an object made of substance B, then A becomes positively charged and B becomes negatively charged. If, however, an object made of substance A is rubbed against an object made of substance C, then A become negatively charged. What will happen if an object made of substance B is rubbed against an object made of substance C?

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Q. How do we know that a object is negatively charged or positively charged?

Q. On rubbing a glass rod with a silk cloth why is it that the glass rod will acquire positive charge whereas the silk cloth gets negative charge and not the other way round ,why can't the glass rod get negatively charged and the silk cloth positively charged ?

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Material that gain positive charges
Most (+) charges	Air	Greatest tendency for giving up electrons and becoming highly positive (+) in charge
	Dry human skin	Greatest tendency of a solid to give up electrons and becoming highly positive (+) in charge
	Leather
	Rabbit fur	Fur is often used to create static electricity
	Glass	The glass on your TV screen gets charged and collects dust
Moderate (+) charges	Human hair	"Flyaway hair" is a good example of having a moderate positive (+) charge
	Nylon
	Wool
	Lead	A surprise that lead would collect as much static electricity as cat fur
	Cat fur
	Silk
	Aluminum	Gives up some electrons
Least (+) charges	Paper

Materials that gain a negative (−) electrical charges (Tend to attract electrons)
Least (−) charges	Wood	Attracts some electrons, but is almost neutral
	Amber
	Hard rubber	Some combs are made of hard rubber
	Nickel, Copper	Copper brushes used in Wimshurst electrostatic generator
	Brass, Silver
	Gold, Platinum	It is surprising that these metals attract electrons almost as much as polyester
	Polyester	Clothes have static cling
	Styrene (Styrofoam)	Packing material seems to stick to everything
Moderate (−) charges	Saran Wrap	You can see how Saran Wrap will stick to things on (+) list
	Polyurethane
	Polyethylene (like Scotch Tape)	Pull Scotch Tape off (+) surface and it will become charged
	Polypropylene
	Vinyl (PVC)	Many electrons will collect on PVC surface
	Silicon
Most (−) charges	Teflon	Greatest tendency of gathering electrons on its surface and becoming highly negative (−) in charge

Materials that are relatively neutral
	Cotton	Best for non-static clothes
	Steel	Not useful for static electricity