Answers

Force and pressure

An inflated balloon was pressed against a wall after it has been rubbed
with a piece of synthetic cloth. It was found that the balloon sticks to the
wall. What force might be responsible for the attraction between the balloon
and the wall?

05/11/2024

Science

8th

Answers

The attraction between the balloon and the wall after rubbing is due to electrostatic force, specifically the phenomenon of static cling. When the balloon is rubbed with synthetic cloth, it gains or loses electrons, becoming charged. This charge polarizes the wall, creating an attraction between the charged balloon and the opposite charge on the wall.
Here’s a more detailed explanation:
Charging the balloon:
Rubbing a synthetic cloth against the balloon causes electrons to transfer from the cloth to the balloon, or vice versa, depending on the materials. This results in the balloon accumulating an electrostatic charge.
Polarization of the wall:
The charged balloon induces a polarization in the wall. This means that the wall’s electrons are rearranged, with a higher concentration of positive charge near the balloon’s surface and a higher concentration of negative charge on the opposite side.
Electrostatic attraction:
The oppositely charged areas on the balloon and the wall attract each other, causing the balloon to stick to the wall.
Static Cling:
This is the general term for the attraction between charged objects, in this case, the charged balloon and the polarized wall.
In essence, the electrostatic force, specifically static cling, is the force responsible for the balloon sticking to the wall after being rubbed with a synthetic cloth.

09/05/2025