1. Electrostatics (aka “Static Electricity”)

2. What is Electrostatics? Electrostatics is the study of the behavior of stationary charged objects.

3. It’s all about the electrons (in constant, random motion around the nucleus) and protons (stuck in the nucleus) Negative Electron Nucleus: positive protons & neutral neutrons

4. The Atom & its particles… Electrons are negatively charged particles moving around the nucleus (in orbitals) electron = e- Protons are positively charged particles located inside the nucleus (w/the neutral neutrons) proton = p+ Electrons are able to be stripped off an atom (friction: fur & pvc pipe) Protons are NOT able to leave an atom because they’re stuck in the nucleus!

6. Types of Materials 1.Conductor: a material that transfers charge easily (ex. Metals: gold, silver, copper). 2.Insulator: a material that does not transfer charge easily (ex. Plastics, glass, cork) 3.Semiconductors: somewhere between 1 & 2 (ex. Silicon, carbon, germanium). 4.Superconductors: some metals become perfect conductors below certain temperatures 5.Train Conductor: a person who drives a train.

7. Law of Conservation of Electrical Charge Electrons may be transferred from one object to another, but they will never disappear or appear from nowhere. Electron abundant = negative charge Electron deficient = positive charge

8. Electrically charged objects... Exert a force on each other Unlike charges attract Like charges repel

9. There are four methods to charge an object:

10. 1. Charging by Friction using friction to remove electrons from one object and placing them on the other object. Result: two objects with opposite charge Walk across carpeted floor with wool socks and you can build up an excess of charge (either on you or the carpet) and therefore, become charged. Fur becomes positively charged. Why? Rod becomes negatively charged. Why? Can use friction to remove electrons from fur and deposit onto rod.

11. 2. Charging by Contact (or Conduction) The process of giving one object a net electric charge by placing it in contact w/another object that is already charged is known as charging by contact. Result: two objects with same charge

13. 3. Temporarily Charging by Induction An object may become polarized (opposite ends) while a charged object is brought near. But, the overall charge on this piece of plastic (for example) is neutral. Result: two objects with opposite charge temporarily When the charged rod goes away, the electrons rearrange and disperse evenly. Object is still neutral.

14. 4. Permanently Charging by Induction The process of giving one object a net electric charge without touching the object to a second charged object is called charging by induction.

15. Permanently Charging by Induction Polarization

16. 5. Credit Card Charging: You may use Visa, Master Card, or American Express Result: Debt from high interest rates!

19. Check out these animations! http://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/sims.p hp?sim=John_Travoltagehttp://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/sims.p hp?sim=John_Travoltage http://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/sims.p hp?sim=Balloons_and_Static_Electricityhttp://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/sims.p hp?sim=Balloons_and_Static_Electricity

20. Van de Graaf Generator

22. Must click on 2 nd link! http://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/sims.p hp?sim=Electric_Field_Hockeyhttp://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/sims.p hp?sim=Electric_Field_Hockey http://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/sims.ph p?sim=Charges_and_Fields http://phet.colorado.edu/simulations/sims.ph p?sim=Electric_Field_of_Dreams