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Lesson: Chapter 19 — Current Electricity

19.1. Static and current electricity 2 of 6

Question 2

Which particle can leave an atom easily, and is therefore the one that moves when two materials are rubbed together?

The right answer is the one marked above.

The electron. Protons and neutrons sit together in the nucleus at the centre of the atom. Of the three, only electrons can leave easily.

This is why rubbing can only ever move negative charge. A surface becomes positive by losing electrons, never by gaining protons.

Answer the question to continue.