03 Static Electricity Physics

Science 10F Static Electricity vocabulary

Static Electricity

A stationary electric charge, typically produced by friction, that can cause sparks, crackling or the attraction of objects that lose/gain electrons easily

Positive Charge (+)

The name of overall charge when an object has lost some electrons

Negative Charge (-)

The name of the overall charge when an object has gained extra electrons

Charged Object

To have an electric charge, having either more or less than the usual amount of electrons

Neutral

Having no electrical charge, having equal number of electrons and protons

Attract

To pull toward

Repel

To push away

Opposite Charges

Attract one another; positive with negative

Like Charges

Repel one another; both negative objects or both positive objects

Electrons

Negatively charged particles that can be transferred

1) Law of Attraction

1) Opposite charges attract, (include a diagram & neutral objects)

2) Law of Repulsion

2) Like charges repel (Include a diagram)

Particle Theory Model of Electricity

In the Intro Particle Model of Matter we focus primarily on the interaction between two neutrally charged atoms or molecules. We make extensive use of the relation of force to potential energy in order to describe the force between two atomic sized particles

Friction

Rubbing different objects together to create static charge

Conduction (by contact)

The act of an object conducting electric charge through direct contact with a charged object (touching)

Electrostatic Series

A chart that shows a substance’s tendency to gain or loose electrons

Induction

The act of an object being near a statically charged object becoming also statically charged (NO touching)

Discharge or spark

A discharge of electrons that balances two opposite charges near each other. If large enough is visible as a jagged beam of light for a split second

Ground Wire

A wire connected to the earth that prevents static charge buildup in electrical systems where static buildup would cause problems

Why do we ground things?

Providing a path for electric charges to flow safely into the ground

Insulator

A material that provides a lot resistance to electric flow; an object that holds charge in one place

Conductor

A material that easily conducts electricity: allows electrons to flow easily

Lightning

Just a large spark, created by clouds having a strong charge (usually negative at the bottom, positively charged lightning is rare and has about 10x the electric current as negative)

Polarization

When charges separate (electrons move away from an incoming charged object if it is negative); this happens when you bring a CHARGED object close to a NEUTRAL object (electrons move towards or away from the charged object depending on what charge it is)