1. Static Electricity

2. Layout of an Atom An atom has a center, called the nucleus, which is made of protons and neutrons Protons are positive Neutrons are neutral Electrons are flying around the nucleus like planets fly around the sun Electrons are negative Electrons are so small, they have almost no mass

3. Electric Charge in the Atom Atom: Nucleus (small, massive, positive charge) Electron cloud (large, very low density, negative charge)

4. Attractions Opposite charges attract Like charges repel The positive nucleus attracts the negative electrons, keeping them from flying off the atom

5. Forces Electricity is a force, just like gravity Gravity F=G(m 1 m 2 /d 2 ) F is force of gravity G is gravitational constant m 1 and m 2 are the masses of the two objects d is distance Force has an inverse square relationship to distance.

6. Coulomb’s Law determines the force of attraction or repulsion between two charged objects F=k(q 1 q 2 /d 2 ) F is force of attraction/repulsion k is a constant q 1 and q 2 are the charges of the two objects d is distance Force has an inverse square relationship to distance.

7. In evaluating forces in space, gravity is the dominating force because the objects (planets, stars, etc.) have so much mass Forces on the Earth are both gravitational and electric When looking at atoms or electrons, the electrical force is dominate because the masses are so small (especially for electrons)

8. Generating Static A static charge is generated as electrons are rubbed off one object and collected on a second This separation of charge creates a collection, or build up, of electrons on one object giving it a negative charge Objects with higher electron affinity want electrons and pull them from objects with low electron affinity

9. Hairy Idea When your body generates a static charge, you feel it – your hair feels like it stands up (because it does) As you generate a charge, all of the parts of your body have the same charge and therefore repel each other Your arms have too much mass to be moved by this repulsion, but your hair has a small mass and the charge can move it Since all the hair has the same charge, it all repels each other and your scalp – your hair stands up!!

10. You can gain a negative charge in your body via a Van de Graaf generator You can gain a positive charge by using a plastic comb in your hair Plastic has a higher electron affinity than your hair, so the comb takes electrons from your hair while combing Keeping a comb wet while combing keeps down static and prevents a “bad hair” day

11. Static Discharge When a negatively charged object contacts a neutral or positively charge object, some or all of the negative charge can be transferred to the 2 nd object - THIS IS STATIC DISCHARGE This is why you get a shock when you touch a door knob on a winter day – you build up a charge while walking and release the charge into the door knob when touching it

12. Transferring part of the charge into the 2 nd object simply makes the 2 nd object negatively charged as well If you rub one balloon on your sweater, then touch it to a 2 nd balloon, both balloons will be negatively charged These balloons will repel each other They will both stick to a wall

13. Induced Charge; Conduction Metal objects can be charged by conduction:

14. Induction Induction is the charging of an object without direct contact. EXAMPLE: 1) The negative charge of a “rubbed” balloon pushes some of the electrons in the wall farther back (likes repel) 2) This creates a positive charge at the front of the wall 3) The negative balloon and the positive wall attract and the balloon sticks to the wall 4) When the balloon is removed from the wall, the charge on the wall “disappears” as there is no negative charge to push the wall electrons further back 5) An induced charge is temporary

15. Induced Charge; Induction They can also be charged by induction:

16. Insulators and Conductors Conductor: Charge flows freely Metals Insulator: Almost no charge flows Most other materials Some materials are semiconductors.