What Is an Electrical Discharge?

When you walk on a rug, static electricity builds up on your shoes. The charge keeps building until you touch something. Then – zap! It suddenly moves onto the object. This movement of charge is called discharge (DIS·charj). You might feel this discharge as a small shock. It can feel painful to some people.discharge

Static electricity doesn’t discharge into all types of materials because electricity flows only where it can. It flows easily through materials called conductors (kuhn·DUK·tuhrz). An insulator (IN·suh·lay·tuhr) is a material through which electricity does not flow. conductors insulator

What types of materials do you think are good conductors? Metals are very good conductors. That is why you might feel a shock when you touch a doorknob. The static electricity on your shoes travels through your body, to your hand, and then into the doorknob.

InsulatorsConductors WoodMetal AirWater Rubber

Fact and Opinion Write a statement of fact from the passage. How could you prove it true or false? Write a statement of opinion. Is the statement of opinion valid? How do you know?

What types of materials can electricity easily discharge into? Answer the question… –With a partner –In your Learning Notebook

discharge The sudden movement of an electric charge from the object where it built up onto another nearby object. Back to text

conductor A material through which heat or electricity flows easily. Back to text

insulator A material through which heat or electricity does not flow easily. Back to text