Sec 4 Static Electricity Question Made Simple: Avoid Misconceptions in Electric Charges

Understanding how electric charges behave can be confusing, especially when it comes to objects in contact or near charged bodies. Here’s a Secondary 4 question on Static Electricity that has puzzled many students:

Question:
Three initially uncharged spheres X, Y and Z are in contact, each supported on an insulating stand. A positively charged rod is placed close to but not touching X.

Which of the following best illustrates the distribution of charges on sphere Y?

This type of question on Static Electricity is common in Singapore Secondary Science exams and often leads to misconceptions about how charges are induced and redistributed. Students may struggle to visualise the interaction between neutral objects and charged rods, especially when the question involves grounding or movement, which make students easily confused.

To truly grasp this concept, students need more than memorisation. They need to reason through how electric charges interact in different setups. That is how the learning platform nurtures confident and self-motivated learners, with on-demand homework help offering timely support when it matters most.