Static electricity is the build up of electric charges on an object not moving or flowing. It occurs as the result of triboelectric charging through friction or induction. Current electricity involves the controlled flow of electric charges, specifically electrons, moving through a conducting pathway or circuit. While both static and current electricity involve the movement and interaction of electric charges, current electricity establishes a continuous flow or motion of charges along a conducting path.

1. Electricity – The Basics
2 Minute Drill
ELECTRICITY is…

2. Electricity – The Basics
Atoms are made of charged particles
called protons (+), neutrons (neutral),
and electrons (-).
The negative electrons orbit the nucleus
of the atom and can travel from one
atom to another.
Electrical energy is the energy of
moving electrons.
Electrical energy can be converted
into other forms of energy such as:
A force is a push or pull.
A force is required to make
something move
ATOMS FORMS OF ENERGY and ENERGY
TRANSFORMATIONS
FORCES
Electricity and Magnetism

3. Electricity – The Basics
• All matter is made of
atoms.
• Atoms are made of:
– Protons (+)
– Neutrons (neutral)
– Electrons (-)
• Protons and electrons
are charged objects
that exert a force on
other charged objects.

4. Electricity – The Basics
• Law of Electric Charges
– Opposite charges attract and like charges repel

5. Electricity – The Basics
• Objects become charged
because atoms gain or
lose electrons.
– If an atom loses electrons it
becomes…
• Positively charged!
– If an atom gains electrons,
it becomes…
• Negatively charged!

6. Electricity – The Basics
• Ways to change the charge:
– Friction – Rubbing 2 objects together can cause
electrons to be “wiped” from one object and
transferred to another.
– Conduction – Electrons are transferred
between objects that are touching.
– Induction – Charges are rearranged without
direct contact (not touching).
https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/balloons

7. Static Electricity
• Static electricity is the build up of
charges on an object.
– Static = not moving
– Charges stay “stuck to” objects
– Loss of static electricity is called an electric
discharge
• Can be slow, like when static-y clothes slowly lose
their charge…
• …or it can be quick…

8. https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/travoltage

9. Electric Discharge

10. Shocking Demonstrations:
AnElectricalExploration
Copy the table below in your composition book.
Observations Explanations
Write or draw what you observe
here. Try to use the words attract
and repel when describing or labeling
your observations.
•Demo 1 – Shocked!
•Demo 2 – Wigged
•Demo 3 – Pie Plates
•Demo 4 – Fluffy 
•Demo 5 - Enlightening
Use your notes to find information
that will help you explain what
caused your observations.
Consider how attraction and
repulsion are affected by same or
opposite charges.

11. Van de GraafF Generator

12. Summary Questions
1. State the Law of Electric Charges.
2. What happens to the charge of an object that gains
electrons?
3. Describe how an object is charged by friction.
4. Compare and contrast charging by conduction and
induction.
5. How is the shock you receive from a metal doorknob
similar to a bolt of lightning?

13. Static vs. Current Electricity
Static Electricity Current Electricity
EQ: What are the similarities and differences between static and
current electricity?
What does an electric current
move (flow) through? Circuit