Charge must be conserved; total charge before equals total charge after.
Process Overview:
Rubbing two different materials together transfers electrons.
Example: Rubbing a balloon on a shirt results in attraction due to charge separation.
The balloon gains electrons and becomes negatively charged, while the shirt loses electrons and becomes positively charged.
Key Points:
Opposite charges attract each other (negatively charged balloon attracted to positively charged shirt).
Different materials interact differently based on their ability to transfer electrons.
Process Overview:
When two conductive objects touch, electrons can move between them.
Example: If a negatively charged object touches a neutral object, electrons transfer, making both objects negatively charged.
Key Points:
Both materials end up with the same charge (both become negatively charged in the example).
Conductors allow easier electron flow compared to insulators, influencing the charge transfer outcome.
Process Overview:
Connecting an object to the ground provides a pathway for excess electrons to flow away.
Example: Using an electrostatic discharge (ESD) bracelet in a lab environment connects to the ground, preventing static build-up.
Key Points:
Grounding effectively neutralizes a positively charged object by allowing electrons to move from the ground to the object, reducing its charge.
Common in environments sensitive to static electricity to protect equipment.
Process Overview:
Necessary components: a charged object (e.g., negatively charged rod) and an uncharged object (e.g., sphere) that do not touch.
The charged object repels like charges in the neutral object, causing a redistribution of charges without direct contact.
Key Points:
If the uncharged object is grounded while near the charged object, electrons can flow away, resulting in a charged object (positively charged after grounding) and a negatively charged rod.
Similar to charging by friction, induction can also lead to opposite charges.
Three Mechanisms of Charge Transfer: Friction, Contact, Induction, with grounding as a method to control charge levels.
The interactions depend on the materials involved and whether they are conductive or insulative.