Electrostatics 2 Flashcards
What did the Ancient Greeks believe about atoms?
They thought that atoms were the most basic particles and that they could not be split further
How has the understanding of atoms changed since the time of ancient Greeks
We now developed a much better understanding of atoms
How many smaller particles make up an atom
Atoms are made up of three smaller particles
What are the three small compartments which make up an atom
Protons, neutrons and electrons
What charge do electrons have
Negative charge
What charge do neutrons have
Neutrons have no charge
What charge do protons have
They have a positive charge
Why is an atom neutral overall
Atoms contain equal numbers of protons and electrons, so overall, an atom has no charge and is neutral.
What exists around a charged object that can exert a non-contact force?
An electrostatic field
What results in attraction and repulsion similar to magnets?
Electrostatic charge
What happens between like charges?
Like charges repel
What happens between opposite charges
Opposite charges attract
What can a charged object do to a uncharged object
A charged object can attract an uncharged object
What is another similarity between electrostatic charge and magnetism?
Both can attract uncharged objects
What happens to charged particles when no electrostatic field is present?
They are evenly spread
When a charged balloon is brought towards the wall, which particles are repelled
The negative particles
What is included when a charged balloon is brought near the wall?
An induced charged
What are electroscopes used to measure?
The amount of static electricity
What happens to the negative charges in an electroscope when a charged object is brought close
They move down the leaves
Why do the leaves of foil in an electroscope repel each other?
Because they have the same charge
