Static Electricity and Electric Circuits is one of 9 topics in the Grade 8 Natural Sciences CAPS syllabus, covered across 3 lessons on Study Vault. Below are real practice questions from this topic with full worked answers.
Sample practice questions
Easy
1. What causes static electricity when two materials, like plastic and wool, are rubbed together?
Friction transfers electrons between the atoms of the two materials
Friction creates brand new protons in both materials
Friction destroys all the charge in both materials
Friction only affects neutrons, not electrons
Answer: Friction transfers electrons between the atoms of the two materials — Friction (rubbing) between certain materials transfers electrons between their atoms, causing one material to become positively charged and the other negatively charged.
Easy
2. Which sub-atomic particle is actually transferred during friction, causing static electricity?
Electrons
Protons
Neutrons
Both protons and neutrons
Answer: Electrons — Only electrons are transferred during friction -- protons and neutrons stay in place inside the atoms.
Medium
3. What happens between two objects that have the SAME type of charge (both positive, or both negative)?
Answer: they repel each other — Objects with the same (like) charge repel each other -- they push apart.
