Static electricity is caused by an imbalance of electric charges, usually between electrons and protons. It occurs when two objects are rubbed together, causing electrons to transfer between them leaving one object positively charged and one negatively charged. Conductors allow electron flow while insulators do not. Current electricity differs in that it involves the controlled, one-directional flow of electrons through conductors, powered by an external voltage source.

1. November 5, 2014

2. 1. Define and describe static electricity
2. Define and recognize the presence of a charge
3. Distinguish between conductor’s and
insulator’s
4. Describe how static electricity is different than
current electricity

3.  Movement of charged particles

4. Rule 1: Like charges repel one another
Rule 2: Unlike charges attract one another

5.  Electrons carry negative charges
and protons carry positive
charges
 Electrons can move from atom to
atom
 An atom that has more electrons
is negative
 An atom that has less electrons is
positive

6.  The imbalance of positive and negative
charges
 So how do we move electrons from one
place to another?
 By rubbing them together

7.  The build up of electrons creates a static
charge
 The jumping of electrons from one object
to another creates a static shock

8.  Build up of neg. charges and pos. charges
on opposite poles
 The positive part of one object will be
attracted and move toward the negative
charge of the other object

9.  TRIBOELECTRIC SERIES
 your hand
glass
your hair
nylon
wool
fur
silk
paper
cotton
hard rubber
polyester
polyvinylchloride plastic
 Items near the bottom tend to gain
negative charges when rubbed with
something near the top

10.  Clouds become negatively charged relative to
the ground
 Lightning appear as charges are exchanged
between the clouds and the ground

11.  Currents made of flowing electrons, in one
direction

12.  Ampere (A) – the rate of electrical flow
 Coulomb (C) – unit of charge
 Relationship between charge and distance
 1 C of charge (6.25 billion billion) per second
 So a wire that carries 5 A has 5 coulombs of
charge per second

13.  Electrons flow only when there is a difference
in electrical pressure – voltage
 Higher the pressure (V) stronger the flow
 Wires need a pump that provides the voltage
to cause flow

14. Simple Circuit

15.  Have loosely held electrons that travel very
easily
 Most metals

16.  Materials that do not allow electrons to travel
freely
 Plastic, cloth, glass and dry air