How can we tell if an object will be positively or negatively charged?

Question

...after we rub it with another? For example if you rub an ebonite rod against animal fur, the ebonite rod becomes negatively charged and the fur becomes positively charged, but why? Why isn't it the other way around (negatively charged fur and positively charged rod)? In other words, how can we tell in which way the electrons will go before we rub? Also when I rub a plastic pen against my hair, how do I know which one is negatively charged (the pen or my hair)?

billrussell42 · Accepted Answer

look up a table of Triboelectric properties. 

It has a list of materials and their order.  Materials are often listed in order of the polarity of charge separation when they are touched with another object. A material towards the bottom of the series, when touched to a material near the top of the series, will attain a more negative charge, and vice versa. 

.

Anonymous · Answer

Boston B has the main fantastic answer different than he only made a slip up the destructive has a surplus of electrons (electrons have a destructive cost) the beneficial has a scarcity of them. beneficial and destructive signs and indications of electricity is only arbitrary, if we've been inventing electricity today they could be the choice way around yet in Benjamin Franklin's days (i think of it substitute into right down to him) electrons weren't understood the only distinction between a negatively charged merchandise and a actual charged one is the form of electrons whilst in comparison with the protons (+ charged). If the protons outnumber the electrons then the object has a + cost. If there are greater electrons then it has a - cost. if there are an identical extensive form then there's no cost.

? · Answer

Use an electrometer. It has little metal leaves that bend in certain ways depending on how an object is charged. Look it up on Wikipedia.

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How can we tell if an object will be positively or negatively charged?

3 Answers