4.2.5 Static electricity

Why can’t insulators conduct electricity?

Their electrons can’t flow through the material

Why can conductors conduct electricity?

Their electrons are delocalised and can flow

What happens when two insulators are rubbed together?

Electrons are transferred from one object to the other, forming a positive charge on one object and a negative charge on the other

What happens if two conductors are rubbed together?

Electrons will flow in/out of them, which cancels any effect so they stay neutral

Why do insulators become charged?

The electrons can’t flow

What is sparking?

When enough charge builds up and the objects are close but not touching, there’s a large potential difference between the object which causes a current to flow between them

What is an electric field?

An area around a charged object when another charged object would experience a force