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Triboelectric Charging - Questions

The Triboelectric Charging Concept Builder is comprised of 33 questions. The questions are divided into 16 different Question Groups. Questions in the same group are rather similar to one another. The Concept Builder is coded to select at random a question from each group until a student is successful with that group of questions.

This Concept Builder consists of three different activities. Those three activities are described as follows:
 
  • What's the Charge: Question Groups 1-4. Information about the relative affinity that two objects have for electrons is given; learners must predict the charge that each object would have when rubbed together. They must also indicate the direction of particle transfer (electrons, protons or both) during the charging process.
  • Triboelectric Series: Question Groups 5-10. A triboelectric series consisting of 15 different materials is given. Information about the charge acquired by an unknown material when rubbed against two or three of the listed materials is also given. Learners must indicate what area on the series that the unknown material should be placed.
  • Rank the Material: Question Groups 11-16. Information about the charge acquired when three or four unknown materials are rubbed together is given. Learners must indicate how the three or four materials should be arranged in a triboelectric series. 

The questions from each group are shown below. Teachers are encouraged to view the questions in order to judge which activities are most appropriate for their classes. We recommend providing students two or more options. 

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Triboelectric Charging

 
Activity 1:  What’s the Charge?
Question Group 1
Question 1
It is known that Object A has a greater affinity (love) for electrons than Object B. When the two objects are rubbed together, they become charged. What is the charge on Object A and Object B? And how do the two objects become charged?
 
 
Question 2
It is known that Object C has a greater affinity (love) for electrons than Object D. When the two objects are rubbed together, they become charged. What is the charge on Object C and Object D? And how do the two objects become charged?
 
 
 
Question Group 2
Question 3
It is known that Object A has a weaker affinity (love) for electrons than Object B. When the two objects are rubbed together, they become charged. What is the charge on Object A and Object B? And how do the two objects become charged?
 
 
Question 4
It is known that Object C has a weaker affinity (love) for electrons than Object D. When the two objects are rubbed together, they become charged. What is the charge on Object C and Object D? And how do the two objects become charged?
 
 
 
Question Group 3
Question 5
It is known that Object B has a greater affinity (love) for electrons than Object A. When the two objects are rubbed together, they become charged. What is the charge on Object A and Object B? And how do the two objects become charged?
 
 
Question 6
It is known that Object D has a greater affinity (love) for electrons than Object C. When the two objects are rubbed together, they become charged. What is the charge on Object C and Object D? And how do the two objects become charged?

 
Question Group 4
Question 7
It is known that Object B has a weaker affinity (love) for electrons than Object A. When the two objects are rubbed together, they become charged. What is the charge on Object A and Object B? And how do the two objects become charged?
 
 
Question 8
It is known that Object D has a weaker affinity (love) for electrons than Object C. When the two objects are rubbed together, they become charged. What is the charge on Object C and Object D? And how do the two objects become charged?
 
 
 
 
 
 
Activity 2:  Triboelectric Series
Question Group 5
Question 9
The chart at the right is a Triboelectric Series. It ranks materials according to their relative affinity (love) for electrons. Materials located higher on the chart have a stronger affinity for electrons.
 
Material A is rubbed with Acrylic. As a result, Material A becomes charged negatively. Material A is then rubbed with Cotton. Once more it becomes charged negatively. Where should Material A be placed on the Triboelectric Series?
 
a. Above Acrylic
b. Somewhere between Acrylic and Cotton
c. Below Cotton
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Question 10
The chart at the right is a Triboelectric Series. It ranks materials according to their relative affinity (love) for electrons. Materials located higher on the chart have a stronger affinity for electrons.
 
Material A is rubbed with Paper. As a result, Material A becomes charged negatively. Material A is then rubbed with Acetate. Once more it becomes charged negatively. Where should Material A be placed on the Triboelectric Series?
 
a. Above Paper
b. Somewhere between Paper and Acetate
c. Below Acetate
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Question Group 6
Question 11
The chart at the right is a Triboelectric Series. It ranks materials according to their relative affinity (love) for electrons. Materials located higher on the chart have a stronger affinity for electrons.
 
Material A is rubbed with Polyethylene. As a result, Material A becomes charged postively. Material A is then rubbed with Aluminum. Material A becomes charged negatively. Where should Material A be placed on the Triboelectric Series?
 
a. Above Polyethylene
b. Somewhere between Polyethylene and Aluminum
c. Below Aluminum
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Question 12
The chart at the right is a Triboelectric Series. It ranks materials according to their relative affinity (love) for electrons. Materials located higher on the chart have a stronger affinity for electrons.
 
Material A is rubbed with Acrylic. As a result, Material A becomes charged postively. Material A is then rubbed with Silk. Material A becomes charged negatively. Where should Material A be placed on the Triboelectric Series?
 
a. Above Acrylic
b. Somewhere between Acrylic and Silk
c. Below Silk
 
 
 
 
 
 
Question Group 7
Question 13
The chart at the right is a Triboelectric Series. It ranks materials according to their relative affinity (love) for electrons. Materials located higher on the chart have a stronger affinity for electrons.
 
Material A is rubbed with Polyester. As a result, Material A becomes charged postively. Material A is then rubbed with Silk. Once more it becomes charged postively. Where should Material A be placed on the Triboelectric Series?
 
a. Above Polyester
b. Somewhere between Polyester and Silk
c. Below Silk
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Question 14
The chart at the right is a Triboelectric Series. It ranks materials according to their relative affinity (love) for electrons. Materials located higher on the chart have a stronger affinity for electrons.
 
Material A is rubbed with Polyester. As a result, Material A becomes charged postively. Material A is then rubbed with Aluminum. Once more it becomes charged postively. Where should Material A be placed on the Triboelectric Series?
 
a. Above Polyester
b. Somewhere between Polyester and Aluminum
c. Below Aluminum
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Question Group 8
Question 15
The chart at the right is a Triboelectric Series. It ranks materials according to their relative affinity (love) for electrons. Materials located higher on the chart have a stronger affinity for electrons.
 
Material A is rubbed with three materials on the chart – Polyethylene, Paper, and Wool. Material A becomes charge positively when rubbed with Polyethylene. It becomes charged negatively when rubbed with both Paper and Wool.  Where should Material A be placed on the Triboelectric Series?
 
a. Above Polyethylene
b. Somewhere between Polyethylene and Paper
c. Somewhere between Paper and Wool
d. Below Wool
 
 
 

 
Question 16
The chart at the right is a Triboelectric Series. It ranks materials according to their relative affinity (love) for electrons. Materials located higher on the chart have a stronger affinity for electrons.
 
Material A is rubbed with three materials on the chart – Vinyl, Silk, and Acetate. Material A becomes charge positively when rubbed with Vinyl. It becomes charged negatively when rubbed with both Silk and Acetate. Where should Material A be placed on the Triboelectric Series?
 
a. Above Vinyl
b. Somewhere between Vinyl and Silk
c. Somewhere between Silk and Acetate
d. Below Acetate
 
 
 
 
 
 
Question Group 9
Question 17
The chart at the right is a Triboelectric Series. It ranks materials according to their relative affinity (love) for electrons. Materials located higher on the chart have a stronger affinity for electrons.
 
Material A is rubbed with three materials on the chart – Polyester, Acrylic, and Cotton. Material A becomes charge positively when rubbed with both Polyester and Acrylic. It becomes charged negatively when rubbed with Cotton.  Where should Material A be placed on the Triboelectric Series?
 
a. Above Polyester
b. Somewhere between Polyester and Acrylic
c. Somewhere between Acrylic and Cotton
d. Below Cotton
 
 
 

 
Question 18
The chart at the right is a Triboelectric Series. It ranks materials according to their relative affinity (love) for electrons. Materials located higher on the chart have a stronger affinity for electrons.
 
Material A is rubbed with three materials on the chart – Acrylic, Cotton, and Glass. Material A becomes charge positively when rubbed with both Acrylic and Cotton. It becomes charged negatively when rubbed with Glass. Where should Material A be placed on the Triboelectric Series?
 
a. Above Acrylic
b. Somewhere between Acrylic and Cotton
c. Somewhere between Cotton and Glass
d. Below Glass
 
 
 
 
 
 
Question Group 10
Question 19
The chart at the right is a Triboelectric Series. It ranks materials according to their relative affinity (love) for electrons. Materials located higher on the chart have a stronger affinity for electrons.
 
Material A is rubbed with three materials on the chart – Cotton, Silk, and Acetate. Material A becomes charge negatively when rubbed with all three materials. Where should Material A be placed on the Triboelectric Series?
 
a. Above Cotton
b. Somewhere between Cotton and Silk
c. Somewhere between Silk and Acetate
d. Below Acetate
 
 

 

Question 20
The chart at the right is a Triboelectric Series. It ranks materials according to their relative affinity (love) for electrons. Materials located higher on the chart have a stronger affinity for electrons.
 
Material A is rubbed with three materials on the chart – Vinyl, Acrylic, and Cotton. Material A becomes charge positively when rubbed with all three materials. Where should Material A be placed on the Triboelectric Series?
 
a. Above Vinyl
b. Somewhere between Vinyl and Acrylic
c. Somewhere between Acrylic and Cotton
d. Below Cotton
 
 
 
 
 
Activity 3:  Rank the Materials
Question Group 11
Question 21
A Triboelectric Series shows various materials ordered by their relative affinity (love) for electrons. Materials located higher on the chart have a stronger affinity for electrons.
 
Tests are performed with objects made of Materials A, B, and C. The table shows the results. Use these results to create a triboelectric series for A, B, and C. 
 


 
Question 22
A Triboelectric Series shows various materials ordered by their relative affinity (love) for electrons. Materials located higher on the chart have a stronger affinity for electrons.
 
Tests are performed with objects made of Materials A, B, and C. The table shows the results. Use these results to create a triboelectric series for A, B, and C. 



 
Question 23
A Triboelectric Series shows various materials ordered by their relative affinity (love) for electrons. Materials located higher on the chart have a stronger affinity for electrons.
 
Tests are performed with objects made of Materials A, B, and C. The table shows the results. Use these results to create a triboelectric series for A, B, and C. 
 
 
 
 
 
Question Group 12
Question 24
A Triboelectric Series shows various materials ordered by their relative affinity (love) for electrons. Materials located higher on the chart have a stronger affinity for electrons.
 
Tests are performed with objects made of Materials A, B, and C. The table shows the results. Use these results to create a triboelectric series for A, B, and C. 
 
 



 
Question 25
A Triboelectric Series shows various materials ordered by their relative affinity (love) for electrons. Materials located higher on the chart have a stronger affinity for electrons.
 
Tests are performed with objects made of Materials A, B, and C. The table shows the results. Use these results to create a triboelectric series for A, B, and C. 
 
 
 

 


Question Group 13
Question 26
A Triboelectric Series shows various materials ordered by their relative affinity (love) for electrons. Materials located higher on the chart have a stronger affinity for electrons.
 
Tests are performed with objects made of Materials A, B, and C. The table shows the results. Use these results to create a triboelectric series for A, B, and C. 
 
 



 
Question 27
A Triboelectric Series shows various materials ordered by their relative affinity (love) for electrons. Materials located higher on the chart have a stronger affinity for electrons.
 
Tests are performed with objects made of Materials A, B, and C. The table shows the results. Use these results to create a triboelectric series for A, B, and C. 
 
 
 
 

Question Group 14
Question 28
A Triboelectric Series shows various materials ordered by their relative affinity (love) for electrons. Materials located higher on the chart have a stronger affinity for electrons.
 
Tests are performed with objects made of Materials A, B, C, and D. The table shows the results. Use these results to create a triboelectric series for A, B, C, and D.
 
 




 
Question 29
A Triboelectric Series shows various materials ordered by their relative affinity (love) for electrons. Materials located higher on the chart have a stronger affinity for electrons.
 
Tests are performed with objects made of Materials A, B, C, and D. The table shows the results. Use these results to create a triboelectric series for A, B, C, and D.
 
 
 



 
Question Group 15
Question 30
A Triboelectric Series shows various materials ordered by their relative affinity (love) for electrons. Materials located higher on the chart have a stronger affinity for electrons.
 
Tests are performed with objects made of Materials A, B, C, and D. The table shows the results. Use these results to create a triboelectric series for A, B, C, and D.
 
 





 
Question 31
A Triboelectric Series shows various materials ordered by their relative affinity (love) for electrons. Materials located higher on the chart have a stronger affinity for electrons.
 
Tests are performed with objects made of Materials A, B, C, and D. The table shows the results. Use these results to create a triboelectric series for A, B, C, and D.
 
 





 
Question Group 16
Question 32
A Triboelectric Series shows various materials ordered by their relative affinity (love) for electrons. Materials located higher on the chart have a stronger affinity for electrons.
 
Tests are performed with objects made of Materials A, B, C, and D. The table shows the results. Use these results to create a triboelectric series for A, B, C, and D.
 
 






Question 33
A Triboelectric Series shows various materials ordered by their relative affinity (love) for electrons. Materials located higher on the chart have a stronger affinity for electrons.
 
Tests are performed with objects made of Materials A, B, C, and D. The table shows the results. Use these results to create a triboelectric series for A, B, C, and D.