At some automobile toll booths, a thin metal wire | StudySoup

Textbook Solutions for Conceptual Physics

Chapter 22 Problem 9E

Question

At some automobile toll booths, a thin metal wire protrudes from the road, making contact with cars before they reach the toll collector. What is the purpose of this wire?

Solution

Solution 9E Step 1 of 2 : Static electricity is produced when two materials rub against each other, causing a buildup of electrical charges. All materials are made up of negatively- and positively-charged particles. These usually exist in equal amounts, balancing each other out. But when two materials come into contact, one may ‘steal’ negatively-charged electrons from the other. One material ends up with more negative charges than positive ones, meaning that it becomes negatively-charged overall, whilst the other becomes positively-charged. If the charges cannot move away as they are produced, they accumulate in the material as static charge, or electricity.

Subscribe to view the
full solution

Title Conceptual Physics 12 
Author Paul G. Hewitt
ISBN 9780321909107

At some automobile toll booths, a thin metal wire

Chapter 22 textbook questions

×

Login

Organize all study tools for free

Or continue with
×

Register

Sign up for access to all content on our site!

Or continue with

Or login if you already have an account

×

Reset password

If you have an active account we’ll send you an e-mail for password recovery

Or login if you have your password back