Question

A student rubs a comb on a cloth. She then holds the comb 30 centimeters above some small pieces of paper on a table, but the paper does not move. When the comb is moved closer to the paper, the paper moves through the air to the comb. (See pic below before move on) Which statement explains why the paper does not move toward the comb when the comb is farther away? MS-PS2-5

a. The paper is not attracted to the comb.
b. The comb and the paper have identical charges.
c. Only metallic objects can be attracted to each other.
d. The attractive field from the comb is weaker farther from the comb.

SEE THE ATTACHENT FOR THE PICTURE!

Answer 1

d. The attractive field from the comb is weaker farther from the comb.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the case of the comb and the piece of papers, the force field created in the comb when the comb was rubbed on piece of cloth was not actually stong enough when the comb was places farther from the piece of paper.

In rubbing the comb on a cloth, a static energy is generated which creates an electric field capable of attracting light objects around it. This field pulls an light object closer to it.