STATIC ELECTRICITY

Question Time Have you ever walked across a rug, reached a doorknob and…ZAP!!!! You get a static shock. What about coming inside from the cold and taking off your winter hat and all of a sudden your hair is sticking straight up? What is happening?

What is Static Electricity? The Electric charge at rest on an object. When something is “static” it is not moving. An object that is statically charged keeps its charge since it is not moving.

Let’s Start from the Beginning Atoms- smallest particle that makes up all matter. Electrons-Negative charged particles that make up an atom Protons: Postively charged particles that make up an atom.

Let’s Start from the Beginning All Matter is entirely made of “electricity” yet because the protons and electrons cancel each other out, we rarely encounter electrical effects in everyday life.

3 ways to charge an object 1. Friction: When electrons are “wiped” from one object to another object. Example: Rubbing a balloon on wool 2. Conduction: When electrons move from one object to another by direct contact. Example: Touching a doorknob while you are negatively charged. 3. Induction: When charges in an uncharged metal object are arranged without direct contact with a charged object Example: Sitting in class on a chair with a metal base and the electrons are transferring on you by making your hair statically charged

Electric Discharge The loss of static electricity as charges move off an object. Example: Lightning touching down on the tallest object in a field.

Electric Charge Law of electric charges: This law states that like charges repel, or push away, and opposite charges attract.

Electric Force The force between two charge objects. ELECTRON FORCE DEPENDS ON TWO THINGS: 1. Amount of charge on an object 2. The distance between the 2 objects; the closer the stronger.

Electric Field The region around a charge object in which an electric force is exerted on another charged object.

Moving Charges Conductors: an electrical conductor is a material in which electrons can move easily through. Copper, Aluminum, and Mercury

Moving Charges Insulators: an electrical insulator is a material in which electrons cannot move easily through. Plastic, rubber, glass, wood, and air.