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32 votes
32 votes
why does the rubber rod push the balloon away, and then why does the glass rod pull the balloon towards it after it is rubbed in fur?

User Tony Joseph
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1 Answer

25 votes
25 votes

Answer/Explanation:

Rubber is an insulator, meaning it doesn't conduct electricity well. Rubber is a very poor conductor of electricity.

The glass rod, however, is being rubbed with fur which makes the glass rod lose its electrons, leaving it to be only positively charged. The electrons get stripped away and remain on the fur.

User Paolo Mossini
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3.1k points