This document presents information about electric charge and how it moves through circuits. It discusses conductors and insulators, how charge can be given to objects through friction, and how like charges repel and opposite charges attract. Examples of electrostatic induction and applications of static electricity like photocopiers, inkjet printers, van de Graaff generators, and electrostatic painting and precipitation are also summarized. The document encourages exploring simulations on electric charge at the provided website for more learning.

1. presents
a production
Everything Electric
Episode 1
Chiefly Charge

2. Conductors and Insulators
Electric charge moves around a circuit
You can build this circuit and test different conducting materials at
http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/circuit-construction-kit-ac

3. Conductors and Insulators
Insulators are bad conductors
Image source: Sandaig Primary School

4. Charging by friction
An object can be given an electric charge
if it is rubbed against another substance.
This will work for
either a conductor
Link: Balloons sim at PHET which is insulated
from the ground eg
you wearing shoes.
Beware shocks!
Link: Travoltage sim at PHET
...or an insulator eg a balloon
Many more brilliant simulations at: http://phet.colorado.edu

5. Electric charge is carried by electrons
Reminder: electrons have a negative charge
Although there are two
types of charge, positive and
negative, in most materials
only the negative electrons
can move. So a positively
charged object eg this
sweater, has lost electrons.
The balloon has gained
Link: Balloons sim at PHET electrons.

6. Attraction and repulsion
+ +
+ -
- -
Two electric charges exert equal and opposite
forces on each other. Similar charges repel each
other and opposite charges attract each other.

7. Electrostatic induction
Q: Why does the balloon stick to the wall?
The electrons in the atoms in the wall can
move but the positive charges cannot.
The negative charge on the balloon
repels the electrons in the wall but
the positive nuclei do not move.
The surface of the wall becomes
positively charged *by induction*.
A: The negative balloon is attracted to the
induced positive charge on the surface.
*the total charge on the wall is still zero*
Link: Balloons sim at PHET

8. van de Graaff generator
A device which creates a
large static electric charge
on an insulated metal
dome.
Image: Dake @ wikipedia

9. The dangers of static electricity
Large amounts of static electricity cause dangerous sparks which
can hurt you or ignite inflammable materials.
When refuelling aircraft, any static electricity gained during flight
must be discharged using a cable connected to the earth.
© Copyright Richard Smith and licensed for reuse under
Image source: John Evans Sons, Inc. this Creative Commons Licence.

10. The Photocopier
1 Negative electric charge placed on
surface of metal drum.
2 Light from white parts of image
removes negative charge.
3 Positively charged toner sticks to
negative charge on drum.
4 Toner transferred from drum to
negatively charged paper.
Image credit:Yzmo on wikipedia.org

11. The inkjet printer
The stream of ink
droplets is electrically
charged. It is deflected up
and down by varying static
charge on the deflection
plates.
Image credit: The free dictionary

12. More uses of electric charge
Image: US National Archive @ flickr
Image: Lindenpainting.com
Electrostatic painting The paint
and object have opposite charges.
Electrostatic precipitation Smoke particles are given a
charge and removed from the chimney by an opposite charge.

13. a production
MUCH MORE AT
http://nothingnerdy.wikispaces.com
http://nothingnerdy.wikispaces.com/ELECTRIC+CHARGE