# A person walks across a nylon carpet wearing rubber-soled shoes. When they then touch a metal door handle, they feel a small electric shock. Explain why the person receives an electric shock when they touch the door handle.

> OCR GCSE Physics A: Gateway Science (J249) — P3.1 Static and charge · Explain · 4 marks

> Nylon carpets and rubber-soled shoes are both electrical insulators. Metal door handles are electrical conductors.

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Friction between the shoes and the carpet causes electrons to be transferred
2. Electrons transfer to (or from) the person, leaving the person with a net (static) charge
3. The charge cannot flow away because the rubber soles / nylon carpet are insulators
4. When the person touches the metal handle, charge flows (as a current) through the conductor, causing the shock

## Related

- [Revision notes for OCR GCSE Physics A: Gateway Science (J249)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

---
Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-person-walks-across-a-nylon-6b4a5c9f) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.