Final answer:
Electrons and protons adhere to electrostatic principles due to their charges, whereas neutrons don't because they are neutral. A 50Hz mains frequency means electrons oscillate 50 times per second, with a time period of 0.02 seconds. Atoms are typically neutral, friction causes charge separation, and conducting materials like copper can prevent static shocks.
Step-by-step explanation:
Principles of Electrostatics and Particle Behavior
Electrons, protons, and neutrons interact with electrostatic forces, but in different ways due to their charges. Electrons, with their negative charge, follow the principle of electrostatics by attracting positive charges and repelling other negative charges. Protons, being positively charged, also follow electrostatic principles but will be attracted to negative charges and repelled by other protons. Neutrons, however, are neutral and do not follow electrostatic principles as they do not have a charge to interact with electric fields.
When we discuss the frequency of mains power distribution (e.g., 50Hz), we refer to the rate at which the alternating current (AC) changes direction. A 50Hz frequency means electrons in a conductor move back and forth 50 times each second. The time period for a 50Hz mains is 1/50 of a second, which equates to 0.02 seconds.
An atom is not charged under normal circumstances because there are equal numbers of protons and electrons that balance out the overall charge, making the atom neutral. However, atoms can become charged by losing or gaining electrons, which turns them into ions.
Friction can cause objects such as a student walking on a carpet to become charged due to the transfer of electrons from one surface to another. A negatively charged student touching a metal tap may experience an electric shock as the excess electrons dissipate rapidly into the tap which acts as a conductor.
Carpets with copper wires can prevent static shocks since copper is a conductor that helps to dissipate static charges, reducing the accumulation of charge on a person walking over the carpet.
In the case of a polythene rod becoming negatively charged through rubbing, electrons from the dusting cloth transfer to the rod. If the rod is suspended and brought near the dusting cloth, which is positively charged, an attraction will occur, demonstrating the principle that opposite charges attract.
Certain conditions, such as humidity, can hinder electrostatic experiments because water molecules in the air become polarized and neutralize the effect of the charged objects. The examples provided demonstrate a variety of ways in which electrostatic principles apply to everyday situations and scientific experiments.