# A Polythene Piece Rubbed with Wool is Found to Have a Negative Charge of 3 × 10^−7 C. Estimate the Number of Electrons Transferred - Physics

A polythene piece rubbed with wool is found to have a negative charge of 3 × 10−7 C.

(a) Estimate the number of electrons transferred (from which to which?)

(b) Is there a transfer of mass from wool to polythene?

#### Solution

When polythene is rubbed against wool, a number of electrons get transferred from wool to polythene. Hence, wool becomes positively charged and polythene becomes negatively charged.

Amount of charge on the polythene piece, q = −3 × 10−7 C

Amount of charge on an electron, e = −1.6 × 10−19 C

Number of electrons transferred from wool to polythene = n

can be calculated using the relation,

q = ne

n=q/e

=(-3xx10^-7)/(-1.6xx10^-19)

= 1.87 × 1012

Therefore, the number of electrons transferred from wool to polythene is 1.87 × 1012.

(b) Yes.

There is a transfer of mass taking place. This is because an electron has mass,

me = 9.1 × 10−3 kg

Total mass transferred to polythene from wool,

m = me × n

= 9.1 × 10−31 × 1.85 × 1012

= 1.706 × 10−18 kg

Hence, a negligible amount of mass is transferred from wool to polythene.

Concept: Electric Charges
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#### APPEARS IN

NCERT Class 12 Physics Textbook
Chapter 1 Electric Charge and Fields
Q 11 | Page 46