A Static Charge Cannot Move Flashcards
What is a static charge?
A charge which builds up in one place and is not free to move
Where are these more common? (Statics charges)
On insulators, where current cannot flow, rather than on conductors
What is a common cause of static electricity?
Friction
- What happens when two insulating materials are rubbed together?
Electrons will be scraped off one and dumped on the other
- What will this leave on each material?
A positive electrostatic charge on one and a negative electrostatic charge on the other
What does the way the electrons are transferred depend on?
The two materials involved
What are both +ve and -ve electrostatic charges only ever produced by?
The movement of electrons
Do the positive charges move?
Definitely not
What is a positive static charge always caused by?
Electrons moving away elsewhere
What can static charges also occur on?
Conductors
What every day item usually gets a static charge and why?
Cars - as they’ve often lost/gained electrons from the air rushing past them as they travel at high speeds
How can a charge conductor be discharged safely?
By connecting it to the earth with a metal strap
How does the metal strap help?
The electrons flow down the strap to the ground if the charge is negative and flow up the strap from the ground if the charge is positive
