Static Electricity

Atoms Every type of matter is made of tiny particles called atoms. Inside each atom, there are many tinier called protons and electrons. Electrons = negative charge Protons = positive charge

Atoms (continued) If an atom has more electrons, it has a negative charge. More protons = positive charge

Changing Atoms Atoms can change charge by losing electrons. Rubbing two different materials together knocks the electrons off one material and onto the other. Now one material has a positive charge and the other has a negative charge, so they…are attracted to each other. Opposites attract!!!!! Remember, rubbing a balloon on your hair?

It’s Electric!!! Static electricity - the buildup of electrical charge on a material. This is caused by electrons moving from one material to another. Static electricity causes the balloon to lift your hair off your head.

It’s Shocking!!!! Have you ever been shocked by a doorknob? Your body picked up a positive charge while your socks rubbed across the carpet. When you touch the metal doorknob… ZAP!!!!! This “shock” is called a discharge.

It’s Shocking!!! Would the same thing happen if you touched a wooden or rubber doorknob? No, because wood and rubber are insulators. Electricity cannot flow through insulators. Electricity can only flow through conductors like metal and water!!!! This is why it is very dangerous to have electric appliances close to water.

Lightning = Static Electricity Remember what happens when you get shocked by touching a metal doorknob? Lightning happens the same way. Your hand is a huge thundercloud. The doorknob is the ground. The bottom of a thundercloud has a negative charge and the ground has a positive charge. When the charge buildup gets too high, charges jump from the cloud and the ground. This is the discharge.

Lightning Safety Why are these good lightning safety rules? Install a lightning rod on your roof. If you’re in a car, stay inside of it. Get out of the water. Don’t touch any metal or electrical device.

What’s Special About Static Electricity? Static electricity cannot be controlled. Once two objects “zap,” or discharge, there is no longer static electricity between them. There will not be another “shock,” “zap,” or discharge until the electrical charges are built up again.