1. Static Electricity and Discharges

2. Page 457
What is ESD:
Electrostatic discharge – the rapid transfer of charge (electrons) between two objects.
Examples:
Lightning striking the CN tower
Van de Graff generator
Spark when touching a door knob
Crackling noise when pulling cloths out of dryer

3. Static Electricity Static electricity:
Is an imbalance of electric charge on the surface of an object.
“Static” means not moving.
This form of electricity is called static because the charges stay in one place until they move suddenly from one object to another

4. A Van de Graff generator builds up electrons.
When you place you hand on it these electrons transfer onto you.
Because all electrons are negative, these charges will repel each other.
This causes you hair to separate as the negative charges get as far away as possible.

5. Electric Discharge
An electric discharge is the rapid transfer of electrons from one object to another.
When you rub your socks across a carpet, electrons from the carpet may move onto you.
When you the touch a metal doorknob, the electrons can move from you to the doorknob (shock!)

6. Lightening
A lightening bolt is causes by the difference in charge between a cloud and the ground.
During a storm the swirling winds cause positive charges to build up on the top of the cloud and negative charges on the bottom.

7. The ground below the could develops a positive charge.
When the difference between the cloud and the earth is strong enough, a path forms causing a surge of electrons we see a lightening bolt.