This exam tips covers Exam Tips within Static Electricity for GCSE Physics. Revise Static Electricity in Electricity for GCSE Physics with 15 exam-style questions and 12 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 14 of 15 in this topic. Treat this as a marking guide for what examiners are looking for, not just a fact list.
Topic position
Section 14 of 15
Practice
15 questions
Recall
12 flashcards
💡 Exam Tips
🎯 Common Question Types:
- "Explain how [object] becomes charged by friction" — 3 marks (electrons, direction, reason for charge)
- "Describe the electric field around [charged object]" — 2 marks (field line direction + spacing)
- "Explain how a lightning conductor works" — 4 marks (charge, field, discharge path, safe earthing)
- "Give one use of static electricity" — 1 mark (name it; for 2 marks, explain how it uses static)
- "Why is the fuel tanker earthed?" — 3 marks (friction → charge → spark → earthing prevents)
📝 Key Command Words:
- Explain — give a reason; "because" must appear in your answer
- Describe — state what happens; the examiner wants facts, not causes
- Draw / sketch — for field line diagrams: add arrows showing direction; show denser lines near the charge
- In terms of electrons — this phrase means you MUST mention electrons specifically
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Saying "positive charges move" or "protons transfer" — protons NEVER move in friction charging
- Drawing field lines with arrows pointing the wrong way (positive: outward; negative: inward)
- Missing the word "electrons" in charging explanations — one mark lost immediately
- Forgetting to explain WHY earthing works (it provides a conducting path, so charge flows away)
- Confusing "discharge" with "charge building up" — in the exam, discharge = charge flowing away/escaping