Question

A student suspends two inflated balloons from the ceiling. The student wants to show that a field exists between the balloons exerting forces on each other even though the balloons are not in contact. Which action will demonstrate that the balloons can either attract or repel each other?

A) Push the balloons toward each other to generate a magnetic field.
B) Place a magnet in between the balloons to generate a magnetic field.
C) Cover one balloon with a cotton cloth to generate a gravitational field.
D) Rub both balloons with a wool rag to generate an electric field.

Answer 1

To demonstrate a field between two balloons causing them to attract or repel, rub both balloons with a wool rag to charge them This creates an electric field that illustrates like charges repelling and unlike charges attracting.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question involves demonstrating a field between two balloons exerting forces on each other without physical contact. The correct action to demonstrate that the balloons can either attract or repel each other is D) Rub both balloons with a wool rag to generate an electric field. By rubbing the balloons with wool, they become charged, and if they have similar charges, they will repel each other, while if they have opposite charges, they will attract each other. This is because like charges repel and unlike charges attract.

To illustrate further, when two charged balloons are suspended from the ceiling and brought close to each other, they will either swing towards each other due to the attractive electrostatic force or swing away from each other due to the repulsive electrostatic force, depending on whether their charges are opposite or the same, respectively.