Electricity Flashcards
What is electrostatic electricity?
an imbalance of electric charges
which type of charge can move? Which type of charge stays in place?
negative charges move (electrons). Positive charges stay in place (protons)
do opposites attract or repel?
attract. The same charge repels
what are conductors?
a material or object that allows for the free flow of electrical charge
what are insulators?
a material the impedes the free flow of electrical charge
there is one type of electron that can move. name it.
valence electron
name the two things an electron is able to do
leave or enter an object
and move within an object that is a conductor, distributing charge within the object
how does an object become positively charged?
it has to lose electrons
list the three ways an object can gain charge
friction
conduction
induction
how does an object gain charge with friction?
it pulls electrons away from one of the objects and transfers them to another. it results in opposite charges. for it to work, both objects have to be neutral.
how does an object gain charge with conduction?
one object with an excess charge is brought near a neutral object. When they touch, they will both have the same charge.
how does an object gain charge with induction?
it requires an object with a charge and a neutral object. If the charged object is brought near the neutral object, the neutral object will become a dipole
when it comes to friction, what will determine the direction that the negative charges will travel?
how strong each material attracts electrons. (electron affinity)
what would happen if a charged object is brought really close to a neutral dipole?
a spark could occur
