Question

A student rubbed to non-metal rods, each of a different material, with two different cloths. She found that the two rods then attracted each other. What is the most likely explanation?

Answer 1

When two non-metal rods made of different materials are rubbed with different cloths, they become charged with static electricity and attract each other due to the opposite charges they acquire.

Step-by-step explanation:

When two non-metal rods made of different materials are rubbed with different cloths, they can become charged with static electricity. The rods then attract each other due to the opposite charges they acquire. For example, if one rod becomes positively charged and the other becomes negatively charged, they will be attracted to each other.

This phenomenon is explained by the fact that rubbing causes electrons to transfer from one material to another. When two materials have different tendencies to attract or lose electrons, one material can become positively charged (by losing electrons) and the other material can become negatively charged (by gaining electrons).

So, in summary, the most likely explanation for the two rods attracting each other is that they acquired opposite charges when rubbed with different cloths.