Electric Energy and Static Electricity

Flashcards covering the vocabulary of electric energy, potential energy, and static electricity as covered in a lecture.

Electrons

Tiny little electrons have a negative charge.

Protons

Much bigger protons have a positive charge.

Neutrons

Neutrons have a neutral charge.

Potential Energy

Energy stored in an object relative (in comparison to) to another thing.

Relative is another way of saying…
In the first image, the weight has low potential energy in comparison to the distance from the ground.

“in comparison to”
In the second image, the potential energy is higher because the weight is lifted higher above the ground.

Electrical Potential Energy

Determined by the relative difference in strength of positive and negative charges, as well as the distance between the charges.

Static Electricity

A build of unbalanced charge in one area.