Unlike charges attract; like charges repel. Use these interactions to explain the motion of charged rods, particles and objects in electric fields.
A student uses this apparatus to demonstrate the effect of electric charge.
He pours some fine powder into a funnel.
The fine powder moves through a length of plastic tubing and falls into a metal can.
The metal can rests on a metal cap.
The metal cap is connected to a thin piece of metal via a metal rod.
When the powder lands in the can, the thin piece of metal moves away from the metal rod.
Explain why the thin piece of metal moves away from the metal rod.