Static Electricity Lecture Notes

These flashcards cover key concepts related to static electricity, including the behavior of charges, properties of atoms, and applications of static electricity.

What causes a student's hair to stand up when placing their hand on a Van de Graaff generator?

The Van de Graaff generator charges the hair and causes the strands to repel each other due to like charges.

How are solid materials charged?

Solid materials are charged by rubbing, through friction.

What happens to electrons in objects when they are rubbed?

Electrons are transferred from one object to another.

What is the overall charge when an atom has more protons than electrons?

The atom has a positive charge because protons are positive particles.

What effect do like charges have on each other according to the laws of static charge?

Like charges repel each other.

Why do protons not transfer when an object gains a charge?

Protons do not move because they are large and stuck in the nucleus of the atom.

What are two factors that affect the amount of electric force between charged objects?

1) The amount of charge. 2) The distance between the charges.

What is an electroscope and how can it detect static charge?

An electroscope detects static charge by having a charged object induce an electric charge in the metal ball, causing movement in the metal foils.

What is the Coulomb?

Coulomb is the unit used to measure the amount of static electrical charge.

How do charged objects attract neutral objects?

Charged objects attract neutral objects through induced charges, where electrons in the neutral object move in response to the presence of the charged object.

What is the smallest particle that can exist by itself?

An atom is the smallest particle that can exist by itself.

What are subatomic particles?

Subatomic particles include protons, neutrons, and electrons.

What charge do protons carry?

Protons carry a positive charge.

What charge do electrons carry?

Electrons carry a negative charge.

What is static electric charge?

Static electric charge is when charges build up in one place, resulting in materials being positively or negatively charged.

What is the difference between positive and negative static charges?

Positive charge develops on materials like acetate when rubbed with cotton, while negative charge develops on balloons when rubbed with hair.

What happens when two objects with like charges are brought close together?

They repel each other.

What happens when two objects with opposite charges are brought close together?

They attract each other.

What determines the strength of static interactions between charged objects?

The strength of static interactions depends on the amount of charge and the distance between the charges.