static charge

static electricity (or charge)

electrice charge that stays in one place until its discharged to other objects or to the air

coulombs

unit of electric charge

uncharged materials

before materials are rubbed together, they are neutral (have equal numbers of positively and negatively charged protons)

electrons can be rubbed off a material

solids are charged by the transfer of electrons

charged materials

both the material that loses and material that gains electrons become electrically charged (unequal number of protons and electrons)

positively charged material

has lost electrons, has more protons than electrons

negatively charged materials

has gained electrons, has more electrons than protons

friction

occurs when objects are rubbed against each other

results in objects becoming charged due to one material gaining electrons and one material losing electrons

electrons may stay on surface of object or travel through it

insulators

do not allow electrons to flow through easily

are able to retain a static charge

electrons will stay in one place on the surface

conductors

allow electrons to move easily

allows for charges to flow through

electrons will move through object and not stay in one place

conductivity

indication of how easily charge travels through an object

higher conductivity = easier electron movement

van de graff generator

moving belt generates static charge at bottom of machine

carries charge to metal dome

laws of static charge

like charges repel, opposite charges attract

grounding

connecting a conductor so that electric charge flows into earths surface