Question

If you charge a pocket comb by rubbing it with a silk scarf, how can you determine if the comb is positively or negatively charged?

Short answer

After rubbing the comb with the silk scarf, you put the comb near a positively charged object. If the positive object repeals the comb, then there is a positive change in the comb, but if the positive object attracts the comb, there is a negative change.

Step-by-step solution

Concepts

The same charge repels and the opposite charge attracts.

For this problem, the comb should be near a positive charge object after rubbing.

Explanation

After rubbing the comb with the silk scarf, you put the comb near a positively charged object. If the positive object repeals the comb, then there is a positive change in the comb, but if the positive object attracts the comb, there is a negative change.