After combing the fur of a cat with a plastic comb, you find that the comb can attract an empty aluminum soft-drink can. The can, lying on its side on a wooden tabletop, rolls toward the comb. Remarkably, even after you touch the comb to the can, the can still is attracted to the comb. Explain these observations.

Question

Physics

Tessa Swanson

22 March, 19:07

After combing the fur of a cat with a plastic comb, you find that the comb can attract an empty aluminum soft-drink can. The can, lying on its side on a wooden tabletop, rolls toward the comb. Remarkably, even after you touch the comb to the can, the can still is attracted to the comb. Explain these observations.

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Kristina Mendoza · Answer 1

Answer: Electric charge by Friction or by Rubbing

Explanation: This process of charging an uncharged material like the Comb used to rub or comb the fur on the skin of a Cat. The Comb is expected to acquire some Negative charge which will attract the an empty Aluminum soft drink Can.

This phenomenon was first Established by Benjamin Franklin who stated that "Every object has a 'normal' amount of electricity that can be transferred from one object to the other when two objects are in close contact, like when they are rubbed together."