Static Electricity 11.1

These flashcards cover key concepts related to static electricity and electric fields from Edexcel GCSE Physics notes.

What phenomenon occurs when certain insulating materials are rubbed against each other and become electrically charged?

Charging by friction.

What happens to the charges on two insulating materials when one loses electrons?

One becomes positively charged and the other becomes negatively charged.

What is the role of electrons in the charging by friction process?

Electrons are transferred from one material to another, causing a charge imbalance.

What do oppositely charged objects do when brought close together?

They attract each other.

What do like charges do when brought close together?

They repel each other.

What is the process of removing excess charge by the movement of electrons called?

Earthing.

How do photocopiers utilize static electricity?

They use a positively charged copying plate and negatively charged toner to transfer an image onto paper.

What is the primary danger associated with static electricity?

The risk of sparking, which can lead to electrocution or fire.

How does static electricity cause lightning to occur?

Electrons transfer between positively charged ground and negatively charged clouds, creating a spark.

What happens when a charged balloon is placed near a neutral wall?

Electrons in the wall are repelled by the balloon, leaving a region of positive charge, causing attraction.

What are electric fields?

A region where an electric charge experiences a force.

What do electric field lines represent?

The direction of the force that a charge would experience in the field.

What happens to the strength of an electric field as the distance between charges increases?

The strength of the force becomes weaker.

What is the significance of the direction of electric field lines?

They point away from positive charges and towards negative charges.

What is created when a charged object creates an electric field?

It creates a region where other charges can experience an electrostatic force.