Static electricity is the buildup of electrical charge on an object, which can result in sensations such as shocks. The document describes experiments using household items to demonstrate static electricity, such as rubbing a balloon on hair or a jumper to create attraction to other objects. It explains the role of friction in transferring electrons and how opposite charges attract while similar charges repel.

1. STATIC
ELECTRICI
TY

2. Explain static
electricity in terms
of electrostatic
forces and friction.
Give a definition for
static electricity and
how it is linked to
charged particles.
Describe how static
electricity can be
demonstrated using
household items.
Learning points

3. what is
static
electricity?
Static electricity is the build up of
electrical charge on an object.
You may feel this in the form of a
shock when you approach a
metal object or another person.

4. experiment
1
1.Rub a balloon on your hair to
make your hair positively charged
and the balloon negatively
charged.
2.Bring the balloon close to your hair
and then move it away. You will
observe that your hair and the
balloon are attracted to each other.

5. experiment
2
1.Put an empty can on its side on a
table.
2.Rub a balloon on either your hair
or your jumper to charge it.
3.Bring the balloon close to the can
and you will see the can become
attracted to the balloon.

6. atom recap
• Protons are positive
• Neutrons are neutral
• Electrons are negative
• Atoms are neutral overall

7. friction & static electricity
Electrons can be transferred between
insulators by friction when they are
rubbed together. We can demonstrate
this by rubbing a balloon on a jumper.
The object which gains electrons (e.g.
the balloon) is negatively charged. The
object which loses electrons (e.g. the
jumper) is positively charged.

8. electrostatic
force
Electrostatic forces between charged
objects can cause the objects to either
attract or repel each other. Opposite
charges attract and objects with the
same charge will repel each other.

9. polarisation of electrical charge
Neutral objects can be attracted by
electrostatic forces too. A charged balloon
can stick to a wall, even though only the
balloon has been electrically charged and
not the wall. This happens because the
electrons on the surface of the wall can
move when exposed to the negatively
charged balloon. The balloon is therefore
attracted to the region of positive charge
on the wall.

10. STATIC
ELECTRICI
TY

11. Use these elements in your
presentation to keep it
looking cohesive. Remember
to delete this page before
presenting!
resource
page

12. Press these keys whilst in present mode!
B = Blur
C = Confetti
D = Drumroll
O = Bubbles
Q = Quiet
U = Unveil
0-9 = Timer
keyboard shortcuts