Static Electricity

You must be able to produce your own definition of “What is static electricity?”

You should be able to explain the attraction or repulsion of charged insulators

You should be able to interpret and explain the results of static electricity experiments in terms of… 1) The type of charge they have (like, unlike or neutral) 2) The role played by electrons

The structure of the atom ELECTRON Negative PROTON Positive NEUTRON No Charge Two positive protons and two negative electrons Gain an electron to become negative Lose an electron to become positive

Charging an object Plastic rod The duster loses electrons so becomes positively charged The rod gains electrons so becomes negatively charged The protons have NOT moved!

Static electricity is the build-up of electric charge on two objects due to the movement of electrons. [One method of building up electric charge is by friction.] Objects that lose electrons become positively charged. Objects that gain electrons become negatively charged.

Attraction Protons do NOT move Note: An object that has been charged is attracted to a neutral object because it causes negative electrons to move (inducing the opposite charge in the surface being approached!!)

Electrostatics Circus Now try the circus of activities You will have 2 min to complete each activity Then 2 minutes to analyse your results

Kiss My Face! Attraction

Rolling Can Attraction

Dancing Krispies Attraction Did anyone notice anything else?

The Amazing Electroscope! Repulsion

You must be able to produce your own definition of “What is static electricity?”

You should be able to explain the attraction or repulsion of charged insulators