Charging by Friction

Question 1

What is STATIC ELECTRICITY?

Answer 1

The imbalance of electric charges in a material

The charge is STATIC (cannot move) unless discharged/grounded.

Question 2

What is CHARGING BY FRICTION?

Answer 2

Friction is a force that slows down or stops two objects from sliding past each other.

Rubbing two objects together can transfer electrons from one object to the other.

Question 3

What happens during charging by friction?

Answer 3

The object that loses electrons becomes positively charged, and the one that gains electrons becomes negatively charged. No new electrons are made—only the existing ones are moved from one object to another.

Question 4

When you charge by friction…. How do you know which object will become positive and which will be negative?

Answer 4

Some materials hold onto electrons more tightly than others.

Using the electrostatic series, we can predict which objects will lose or gain electrons.

Materials higher in the series are less likely to gain electrons, so they become positive.

Materials lower in the series are more likely to gain electrons, so they become negative.

Question 5

Example 3 - What will happen when a piece of glass is rubbed with a piece of cotton?

Answer 5

Glass is higher than Cotton

Glass will lose electrons = positive

Cotton with gain electrons = negative

Electrons will transfer from the glass to the cotton