An object becomes positively charged by gaining protons.
True
False
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is False.
An object becomes positively charged by losing electrons, not by gaining protons. Protons, which are positively charged particles, are found in the nucleus of an atom and are not transferred during charging. The number of protons in an object (or atom) remains constant in normal circumstances, unless a nuclear reaction occurs, which is not related to everyday electrical phenomena.
Electrons are negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus of an atom. When an object loses electrons, there is an imbalance between the number of positively charged protons in the nucleus and the negatively charged electrons. As a result, the object acquires an overall positive charge. Conversely, if an object gains electrons, it will become negatively charged, as it has more negatively charged particles than positively charged protons.
In a typical situation where an object becomes positively charged, such as when rubbing a balloon against hair or when an object is touched by another with a different charge, the movement of electrons causes the positive charge to accumulate on one object and the negative charge on the other.
The process of gaining or losing electrons is central to understanding how static electricity and charge transfer occur. It’s important to note that the concept of “gaining protons” is not feasible in normal charging or discharging processes. Protons remain fixed in their respective atoms, and it is the electrons that are responsible for charge transfer in most electrostatic interactions.