Characteristics of Electricity Unit 4
Chapter 7: Static Charges
Chapter 7: Static Charges Lightning looks like a giant spark. It is actually similar to a spark that forms if you get shocked by a car door Or a spark that forms after shuffling across a room and touching a light switch.
Storing and harnessing large amounts of electric charge allows us to do many of the things that are now essential parts of our lives.
Section 7.1 Static Charge
Recall: Structure of an Atom Electrons have a negative charge and protons have a positive charge. In solid materials: protons are fixed in place while the electrons are moving around! Because of this, only the electrons can change locations in a solid.
Types of Electricity Static Electricity: the build up and release of a Static Charge (electrons) on an object (Ex: lightning, shock when you touch a metal door-knob)
Current Electricity: The constant flow of electrons through a circuit (often a metal wire). It powers most things you think of as using electricity.
What is Static Charge? Many common materials can receive an electric charge when rubbed against another object. This stationary charge is known as a Static Charge
Static Charge: an electric charge that can be collected and held in one place.
Since protons are fixed in place, solid materials are charged by the transfer of electrons.
Friction created when rubbing two materials together may result in electrons transferring from one to the other. This can create a charge on both objects!
Types of Static Charge Objects can have three different types of static charge: Neutral: equal amounts of protons and electrons Negative: more electrons than protons Positive: less electrons than protons
Coulomb:. the unit of electric charge Coulomb: the unit of electric charge. One coulomb (1 C) of charge is equal to the gain or removal of 6.25x1018 electrons!
When an object loses an electric charge it is known as an electric discharge Tesla Coil Lightning
Charge Diagrams
Laws of Electric Charge Three laws govern how charged objects interact: Like Charges Repel Unlike charges attract. Charged objects can attract neutral ones.
Worksheet 7.1a – Visualizing Charge Transfer