1. To understand how electrostatic charges occur.
13-Nov-18
Electrostatics
Objective
To understand how electrostatic charges occur.

2. What is static electricity?
Static electricity is due to the build up of electric charge.
It is called ‘static’ electricity because the charge is unable to flow.
The build up of electric charge can cause dangerous sparks.
Sometimes, after walking on a carpet and then touching a metal object, such as a door knob, you might get a small shock. This is caused by static electricity.

3. Charging a polythene rod

4. There are 2 types of electrical charge, positive and ………..
Like charges repel and unlike charges ………...
Eg. If we rub some electrons off the surface of a balloon it will become ………….. charged. If we then hold it near to a wall, the ……… charges in the wall are attracted to the balloon and it sticks to the wall.
Electrostatic charges are caused by the movement of

5. Experimenting with static charge
Teacher notes
This simulation activity allows students to explore the effects of a charged balloon on a range of items. It could be used a precursor to running the practical in the lab or for revision purposes. Please note that each experiment contains a section showing the behaviour of charges in the materials, which can be viewed by clicking “play” after the interactive stage.

6. 2 balloons which have been rubbed on the same material will repel each other because ……………….

7. ‘Van de Graaff’ generator
Teacher notes
This three-part animation could be used to introduce work on Van de Graaff generators. It could be highlighted to students that the generator uses the basic principle of rubbing insulators together to produce charge. In stage 3, it is important to note that the boy would be standing on an insulator, such as a rubber coated step. More information about Van de Graaff generators is available at

8. All of his hair gets the same charge causing them to _________ each other. This causes his hairs to stick up.

9. The Van Der Graaff Generator
Try to explain how the generator works.
Start with the following: -
The moving belt becomes positively charged as it moves against the bottom roller. When the belt reaches the top roller …..….

10. Investigating pairs of charges
Teacher notes
This activity allows students to explore how charges behave. Students could be asked to complete the table in their books and the activity could be concluding by completion on the IWB.

11. Electrostatics 2 Objective
13-Nov-18
Electrostatics 2
Objective
To understand how electrostatic charges can be nuisances and dangerous.

12. Starter:
All of the positively charged particles ………
each other on top of the sphere.
Lots of …….. charges were left in Oliver’s hair. Again these
repelled each other so his hair stood up.
Attracted repelled positive negative

13. Electric Fields

14. How static charges can be a nuisance or dangerous
For example:
1: Attracting Dust
2: Clothing clings
3: Shocks from door handles

15. There are 2 situations where static charges can be dangerous.
1: Fuel filling
Fuel tank
nozzle from tanker

16. Static can build up as the fuel flows along the pipe
Static can build up as the fuel flows along the pipe. This can easily lead to a spark and then an explosion. (This is why Earthing straps are used).
electrical link

17. 2: Moving flour or grain
Similarly, the movement of flour or grain can result in an explosive build up of charge.

18. Sparks
The electric field causes the surrounding air to become separated into positive ions and electrons -- the air is ionized. Keep in mind that the ionization does not mean that there is more negative charge (electrons) or more positive charge (positive atomic nuclei / positive ions) than before. This ionisation only means that the electrons and positive ions are further apart than they were in their original molecular or atomic structure.

19. The chances of an electrostatic shock can be reduced by:
1: correct earthing (conductive)
2: using anti-static sprays (conductive)
3: use of insulating mats
4: using shoes with insulating soles

20. To be able to describe some of the uses of static electricity
13-Nov-18
Uses of Static Electricity
To be able to describe some of the uses of static electricity

21. [3] Explain why the two strips move apart.
Look at the pictures.
Explain why the two strips move apart.
In your answer, write about:
• charges
• forces.
[3]

22. Uses of static electricity
Static electricity can be dangerous but it can also be useful, as long as it is used carefully.
Examples of uses of static electricity are:
Photocopiers and printers
___________________
Spray painting
Pollutant removers
Defibrillators

23. 1: Photocopiers

24. Photocopier activity

25. electrostatic generator
2: Spray painting
Static electricity can be used to spray a car with paint: - + - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Paint gun nozzle has a positive
charge.
Car is negatively charged.
electrostatic generator
The nozzle of the paint gun is connected to one terminal of an electrostatic generator.
The other terminal is connected to the metal panel, which is earthed.

26. Spray Painting Advantages: Wastes less paint
Even distribution - Repulsion
Lack of paint shadows

27. 3: Smoke Precipitator
Static electricity can be used to reduce pollution in the chimney of a power station.
A metal grid at a very high voltage is placed at the bottom of the chimney. The smoke particles gain an electric charge.
Smoke particles are attracted to the collecting plate.
Smoke particles are attracted together to form large particles. When the particles are large enough they fall back down the chimney.

28. 4: Defibrillator
Defibrillation is a procedure to restore a regular heart rhythm by delivering an electric shock through the wall of the chest to the heart.
STEP 1 – two paddles are charged from a high voltage supply.
STEP 2 – They are then placed firmly on the patient’s chest to ensure good electrical contact
STEP 3 – Electric charge is passed through the patient to get their heart to contract
The handles of the paddle are made of an insulating material to ensure the operator doesn’t experience an electric shock as well.

29. Uses of electrostatics
1 Ian is a doctor and uses a defibrillator to restart a patient’s
heart when it has stopped.
(a) Describe how this is done.
(b) What safety precautions need to be taken when using a
defibrillator?
2 Large car companies use electrostatics to paint cars. They
charge the spray gun and the car body.
(a) Why do they charge the spray gun?
(b) Why do they charge the car?
What is the advantage of using this method of painting?
3 Electrostatics has many uses. Write down two.

30. Charge, Current and Time
Objectives
To know the formula relating these three variables.
To be able to apply the formula to simple and complex problems.

31. This is a measure of the rate of flow of electric charge in a circuit.
Current
This is a measure of the rate of flow of electric charge in a circuit.
It is measured in amps (A) using an ammeter. A
An ammeter must be connected in series as it measures the current flowing through it.
Teacher notes
It may help some students to conceptualize the idea of electrons moving around a circuit by introducing the idea of electron drift velocity. This is a measure of how much electrons move in a material. For example, when a 1 ampere current travels through a copper wire with a 1mm2 cross section, the drift velocity is less than 0.1 mm per second.
More information about drift velocity is available at

32. Current = Charge / Time (A) (C) (s) I = Q / T
Q is the amount of charge that is flowing. It is measured in coulombs (C)
t is the amount of time it took for that charge to flow past a point (s)
I is current. It is literally charges per second (C/s). But we use the word amps (A)

33. 100 Coulombs of charge flow past a point in 40 seconds
100 Coulombs of charge flow past a point in 40 seconds. What was the current?
100 ÷ 40 = 2.5A

34. 100 Coulombs of charge flow past a point in 20 seconds
100 Coulombs of charge flow past a point in 20 seconds. What was the current?
100 ÷ 20 = 5A

35. 200 Coulombs of charge flow past a point in 20 seconds
200 Coulombs of charge flow past a point in 20 seconds. What was the current?
200 ÷ 20 = 10A

36. How much charge flows past a point in 100 seconds if the current is 10A?
10 x 100 = 1000C

37. How much charge flows past a point in 200 seconds if the current is 10A?
10 x 200 = 2000C

38. How long does it take 8000C of charge to flow if the current is 20A?

39. How long does it take 8000C of charge to flow if the current is 10A?

40. Charge on an electron
The charge on an electron is: x10-19C How many electrons are passing a point in a wire, every second, if the current flowing through is 1A? Q = I x t = 1A x 1s = 1C N = 1C / 1.602x10-19C = N = 6.24x1018 electrons

41. Energy = Charge x Voltage
(J) (C) (V)
E = Q V
Q is the amount of charge that is flowing. It is measured in coulombs (C)
E is the energy provided (J)
V is the voltage provided (V).