Static Electricity

Everything we see is made up of tiny little parts called atoms. Atom Neutral – Same number of electrons and protons Negatively Charged – More electrons than protons Positively Charged – More protons than electrons

What is static electricity? When two objects rub against each other electrons transfer and build up on an object causing it to have a different charge from its surroundings. Like the shoes rubbing against the carpet. Electrons are transferred from the carpet to the shoes.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Electrons travel from hair to balloon creating negatively charged balloon

If two things have different charges, they attract, or pull towards each other. If two things have the same charge, they repel, or push away from each other. What’s going on here?

During thunderstorms the charges separate in such a way that the negative charges concentrate in the base of the cloud. Since like charges repel, some of the negative charges on the ground are pushed down away from the surface, leaving a net positive charge on the surface. Opposite charges attract, so the positive and negative charges are pulled toward each other. Since the negative charges (electrons) are smaller than the positive charges they move much more easily and cover most of the distance. As soon as the negative and positive parts of the stepped leader connect there is a conductive path from the cloud to the ground and the negative charges rush down it causing the visible stroke.

Curent Electricity

Charge on the move is Current Electricity Current electricity travels or moves through conductors. Electricity flows in a pathway called a circuit. Electricity is a form of energy. A battery can be a source of current electricity. Conductor Source Circuit Short Circuit

If we put light bulbs or motors in circuits with a source, we can change electric energy to other kinds of energy like heat or light.

Parallel Series

Parallel

Series