A polythene piece rubbed with wool is found to have a negative charge of
(i) Estimate the number of electrons transferred (from which to which?).
(ii) Is there a transfer of mass from wool to polythene?
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Soln.:
(i) Since the wool is positively charged and the polythene is negatively charged, we can say that few amounts of electrons are transferred from wool to polythene.
Charge on the polythene, q =
Amount of charge on an electron,
Let the number of electrons transferred from wool to polythene be n
So, by using the given equation, we can calculate the value of n,
q = ne
Therefore, the number of electrons transferred from wool to polythene is
(ii) Yes,
Mass is also transferred as an electron is transferred from wool to polythene and an electron particle has some mass.
Mass of an electron,
Total mass transferred , m =
Here, the mass transferred is too low that it can be neglected.

