Electricity

Resources: Brainpop Static Electricity https://www.brainpop.com/science/energy/staticelectricity/ Brainpop Electricity https://www.brainpop.com/technology/energytechnology/electricity/ Bill Nye https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_QvXmxx1Oo

Electricity Unit Name: ___________________ Notes on Electrical Charge Date:________ Notes on Electrical Current Date:________ Notes on Electrical Circuits Date:________ Review Sheet – Electricity Date:________ Circuits Exploration Sheet Date:________ Engineering Project Date:________ Electricity Lab/Write-Up Date:________ Electricity Quiz Date:________

What is electricity? The term electricity refers to the interactions involving the charged (+/-) parts of atoms or objects On a large scale, these charges can be useful

The atom consists of: + a nucleus made up of protons (+) and neutrons Electrons (-) spinning quickly around the nucleus

Objects do not like to have a charge! The lowest energy state of an atom is neutral (no charge, +’s and –’s are equal) There are forces between separated + and – charges. The – charges want to be with the + charges and will move towards them until +’s and –’s even out

- - - - - - - - - - + + + + + + Electrical Charge An object is said to have an electrical charge if its protons (+) and electrons (-) are not in equal amounts The more extra protons (+) or electrons (-) an object has, the stronger the charge on it. - - - - - - - - - - + + + + + + I have a charge of -4 because I have 4 more –’s than +’s.

+ + - - - + + Electrical Forces There is a force of attraction between positive and negative charges (opposite) attraction + - There are forces of repulsion between similar charges - repulsion - repulsion + +

Like charges push away:

Opposite charges come together:

Strength of Electrical Forces: More charge separation  stronger electrical force - - - - - - - - - - - - + + + + + + + + + - - Weak force Stronger force More distance  weaker electrical force: + + + + - - - Stronger force + + + + - - - Weaker force

Static Electricity: Rubbing feet on carpets puts extra electrons on you giving you a - charge Because dry air and rubber are insulators, the charge remains on you until … Touching a conductor such as a metal door knob or a person’s wet hand will conduct the charge away from you

Conductors and Insulators: Conductors - materials through which charges move easily metals (especially copper and aluminum) Insulators - materials through which charges will not move easily glass, dry wood, most plastics, rubber, dry air