Atoms and Electricity

How long have people known about electricity? 1600: William Gilbert invented the term electricity s: Electrical appliances introduced into most homes Mains powered radios, vacuum cleaners, irons and fridges were becoming part of every household. 1800: Volta – Developed the first battery 600BC: Static electricity discovered Thales, a Greek, found that amber that was rubbed with silk attracted feathers. He had discovered static electricity BCToday 1752: Benjamin Franklin proved that lightning is a form of electricity Here are a few of the main events!

Atoms  Atoms are the basic building blocks of matter that make up everyday objects.  How big are atoms?  What things do you think are made of atoms? A desk, the air, even you are made up of atoms!  There are 90 naturally occurring kinds of atoms. Scientists in labs have been able to make about 25 more.

What are atoms made of? Proton + Positive charge neutron nucleusElectrons -Negative charge Normally, the Number=Numberof ProtonsElectrons The atom has no charge

What can happen when atoms collide? Before: 2 protons, 2 electrons No charge After: 2 protons, 3 electrons Negative Charge After: 3 protons, 2 electrons Positive charge Before: 3 protons, 3 electrons No charge Before: 2 protons, 2 electrons No charge Before: 3 protons, 3 electrons No charge

What do atoms have to do with electricity?  Most often we think of electricity as the current that runs through wires that you plug into the wall. However, electricity affects things without wires.  Static electricity is a buildup of electrical charge that occurs when electrons are transferred to another atom.

Static electricity  What are some examples of static electricity? Balloons rubbed with wool cloth

Another example of static electricity : Lightning Before a storm, moisture, in the form of water vapor, rises from the ground. The rising moisture and falling ice particles in the cloud rub together. The bottom of a storm cloud becomes negatively charged as electrons are transferred from the moisture to the ice. The ground has a positive charge The negative charge needs to find somplace to be released. The closest positive charge is the ground. The negative charge is discharged, or released,to the ground in the form of lightning