Deck 3: Static Electricity

Question 1

A thundercloud contains only positive electric charges.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Current always flows from positive to negative.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Lightning rods provide an easy path to ground for current.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Most lightning discharges associated with a cloud occur between the cloud and the ground.

Question 5

The static charge sometimes used during spray painting is an example of a(n) _____ static charge.

A) nuisance
B) useful

Question 6

Electrostatic charges occur on _____.

A) conductors
B) insulators

Question 7

In a clothes dryer, the greatest static charges generally are built up on _____ fabrics.

A) man-made
B) natural

Question 8

An electroscope can be used to determine the polarity of an electrostatic charge.

Question 9

When an object protected by a lightning _____ is struck by a lightning bolt, it will bleed the lightning discharge to ground before the protected object can be harmed.

A) arrestor
B) umbrella
C) catcher
D) rod

Question 10

Within a lightning bolt, current flows _____.

A) from positive to negative
B) from negative to positive
C) in both directions

Question 11

A lightning protection device that is grounded at one end, with the other end close to but not touching the object to be protected, is called a lightning _____.

A) arrestor
B) catcher
C) umbrella
D) rod

Question 12

Insulators are the only materials that can hold _____ stationary.

A) elements
B) electrons

Question 13

Lightning is the result of static charges built up in clouds that contain a large amount of moisture.

Question 14

Bringing a charged test object near the ball of a charged electroscope causes the leaves to move closer together. This indicates that the test object charge is the _____ polarity as the electroscope charge.

A) same
B) opposite

Question 15

The shock that results from walking across a carpet and touching a doorknob is an example of a(n) _____ static charge.

A) nuisance
B) useful

Question 16

The precipitator uses a high-voltage DC power supply to provide a set of wires with a positive charge and a set of plates with a _____ charge.

A) negative
B) positive
C) ​neutral

Question 17

A precipitator is a type of _____.

A) air filter
B) lightning rod
C) small wire
D) power supply

Question 18

Static electricity refers to electrons that _____ moving.

A) are
B) are not

Question 19

Copy machines operate on the principle of static electricity.

Question 20

If a thundercloud has a positive charge, the current in the lightning bolt will flow from the _____.

A) ground to the cloud
B) cloud to the ground

Question 21

Nuisance static charges are more likely to occur when the air is _______________.

Question 22

The semiconductor material used as a coating on copy machine drums is _____.

A) aluminum
B) germanium
C) selenium
D) silicon

Question 23

Power lines are often protected by lightning _______________ that exhibit a very high resistance at the normal voltage of the line.

Question 24

Selenium is a(n) _____.

A) conductor
B) insulator
C) semiconductor