Preview - Charge Interactions Chem/Phys

Two Conductors -- Electron Behavior

Now we will look at the interaction of two charged metal conductors, and see if we can observe any patterns.

To run the simulation, adjust the settings for shape, size, and number of electrons,  then click "setup" and then click "go". If you need to change the speed of the simulation, pull the slider on the bar labeled "ticks" at the top. When you're ready to start a new trial, again adjust settings, click setup, and go.

 

Questions

Please answer the questions below.

Create 2 square conductors of equal size and with equal excess charge. Click setup and go, and then wait until the charge (mostly) stops moving. What do you notice about the arrangement of charges in each square?

Hint: you can increase the model speed using the slider at the top of the simulation.

Move the two squares you just created close together but NOT touching. Did the electrons move from their previous positions? Does their final stable position differ from before (Q2.1)? Why or why not?

Hint: Slow the tick slider down significantly before moving the squares so you don't miss what happens!

Now touch the two squares together. What happens? Why do you think this occurs?

Repeat this same sequence (Q2.1-Q2.3), but with circle conductors instead of squares. Does anything happen differently when the circles are originally created (Q2.1), moved close together but not touching (Q2.2), or touched together (Q2.3)?

Set up 2 conductors (of either shape) with equal charge, but significantly different sizes. What happens to the electrons when you touch these two conductors together? Explain what the final arrangement of charges looks like and why it ends up this way.

Set up 2 conductors (of either shape) with equal sizes, but significantly different charges. What happens to the electrons when you touch these two conductors together? Explain what the final arrangement of charges looks like and why it ends up this way.

Again, keep the size of the conductors the same and the initial number of electrons different. Touch the conductors together, and wait for the charges to stabilize. Below, record:

  • How many electrons started on each object?
  • How many electrons ended on each object?
  • How many electrons moved?
  • Is there a pattern or "rule" governing this behavior? Try another trial and see if your idea checks out...

In the first two pages of this lesson, you studied the behavior of electrons on a single conductor and electrons on two separate conductors that can join. Summarize the rules or patterns you observed about electron behavior in conductors.

How do you think this behavior would be different in an insulator?

Notes

These notes will appear on every page in this lesson so feel free to put anything here you'd like to keep track of.