Current + Static electricity

What is static electricity?

Static electricity is a buildup of electric charge on the surface of an insulator.  

Explain what an insulator is.

Insulators do not conduct charge (electricity). The charge that has built up on the insulator cannot easily flow away from the insulator

Give the positions and charges of the electrons and protons of an atom.

Proton-Nucleus (Positive)

Electron—Around the outside of an atom (negative)

Explain why atoms are neutral

Atoms have equal amounts of protons and electrons. The charges on the protons and electrons balance each other out, so the atom has no overall charge.

Define friction and what effect it has on the electrons of an atom.

Friction is the action of one surface rubbing over another surface.  Friction between two insulating materials can cause electrons to be transferred from the one material to the other

Give 2 twos a insulator can be charged through rubbing

• The insulator gains electrons and has an overall negative charge

• The insulator loses electrons and has an overall positive

Explains what happens to each material when rubbed against both one another

• The material that loses electrons has an overall positive charge. There are more protons than electrons. 

•  The material that gains electrons has an overall negative charge. There are more electrons than protons. 

Explain the forces between charged objects.

The forces between charged objects obey the Law of Charges.  

• Opposite charges attract'

• Like charges repel. 

 

When will objects discharge?

An object will discharge when electrons move from a charged object to a neutral object. Discharging can take place when objects touch each other or when they are brought close but do not touch. 

Explain why the spark and crackle of air molecules materialize.

When electrons move across an air gap they can heat the air particles to very high temperatures. This causes the air particles to glow and expand. We see the glowing and expanding air particles as a spark and hear it as a crackle. 

True or false? If someone shocks you with static electricity , it’s dangerous

FALSE!

Explain the danger of sparks near flammable material.

Sparks can cause flammable materials to ignite. A small electrostatic spark is enough to ignite flammable petrol fumes at a petrol station. This is because petrol fumes are very explosive and only need a small amount of heat to start them burning. 

Explain how static electricity builds up within thunderclouds.

During a thunderstorm, there is friction in the atmosphere between the particles that make up clouds, causing a buildup of regions of charge. Once the difference in charge between two regions becomes great enough, electrostatic discharge becomes possible. A lightning flash is a massive discharge between charged regions within clouds, or between clouds and the Earth.