Ms. Moore 11/1/12

Positive and Negative Charge Why does walking across a carpeted floor and then touching something sometimes result in a shock?  electric charge Atoms: smallest particle of an element Atoms contain particles called protons, neutrons, and electrons Protons: positive charge Neutrons: no charge Electrons: negative charge Atoms have = number of protons and neutrons Objects with no net charge = electrically neutral

Transferring Charge Electrons can be bound more tightly to some atoms and molecules. Electrons in soles of shoes are bound more tightly then those on carpet…so, they are transferred to your soles. Soles become more negatively charged Static Electricity: accumulation of excess electric charge on an object

Conservation of Charge Like energy, when an object becomes charged, charge is neither created nor destroyed. Law of Conservation of Charge: charge can be transferred from object to object, but it cannot be created or destroyed

Charges Exert Force Static cling, anyone?  They cling together because of the forces electric charges exert on each other Opposites attract…like charges repel. Distance matters Farther apart = weaker force

Mini Lab