The Science Behind the Triboelectric Series
Understanding the Triboelectric Series
Use a piece of tape to hang the PVC strip from the edge of your desk so it can swing freely. Rub the wool on the PVC strip, and rub cotton on the PVA strip.
What charge does each strip have according to the triboelectric series?
PVC (White strip) - Negative charge
PVA (Clear strip) - Positive charge
What happens when you bring the PVA close to the hanging PVC strip? Explain why.
When you bring the PVA close to the hanging PVC strip, there will be an attraction between the two strips. This is because they have opposite charges – one is positive and the other is negative. According to the principle that opposite charges attract, the PVA and PVC strips will be drawn towards each other.
Rub Wool on a second PVC strip, and bring it close to the hanging PVC strip. What happens? Explain why.
When you rub wool on a second PVC strip and bring it close to the hanging PVC strip, there will be a repulsion between the two strips. This is because both strips are negatively charged, as wool readily gives up electrons to PVC. According to the principle that like charges repel each other, the two PVC strips will push away from each other.
Final Answer: PVC, when rubbed with wool, acquires a negative charge. PVA, when rubbed with cotton, becomes positively charged. When brought together, the PVA and PVC (having opposite charges) will attract. However, two PVC strips rubbed with wool (and therefore both negatively charged) will repel each other.
Explanation: The PVC strip (white) acquires a negative charge because it ranks lower than wool in the triboelectric series, meaning it more readily accepts electrons. The PVA strip (clear), rubbed with cotton, acquires a positive charge as cotton is below PVA on the series. When brought close, the opposite charges of the strips lead to attraction. Conversely, when both strips are negatively charged, they repel each other.
What is the significance of the triboelectric series in understanding electrical phenomena? The triboelectric series is important as it helps predict the behavior of materials when they come into contact with one another. By knowing which materials are more likely to gain or lose electrons when rubbed together, we can understand how charges are distributed and how objects interact electrically. This knowledge is crucial in various fields such as physics, chemistry, and engineering.