Module 1.1 - Charge

Question 1

What are three main properties of electric charge

Answer 1

1. it is a physical property like mass
2. cannot be created or destroyed just conserved
3. there is positive and negative charge (if similar repel if opposite attract)

Question 2

What is one way of charge?

Answer 2

Electric charge can be produced by the difference of positive and negative charge on two surfaces. If one surface has stronger negative charge and the other has stronger positive charge they electrons will jump from one surface to the other even if they aren’t in contact because of their need to be neutral this causes sparks to fly = electricity
e.g. lightning

Question 3

What is electrostatic induction?

Answer 3

induction is the temporary separation of some electrons from their atoms as they move onto an electrically charged object ear them.
charged objects attract unchanged objects due to induced electric charge
induced electric charge dissapears when the object is taken away.

Question 4

What is an insulator + examples?

Answer 4

an insulator is material that does not allow an electric charge to flow through because they have no free ions. Insulators can hold an induced charge for longer
(e.g. plastics, glass, ceramics)

Question 5

What is an conductor + examples?

Answer 5

a conductor is a material that can allow electric charge to flow though it because they have delocalised electrons
conductors cannot hold an induced charge for long
(e.g. metals, copper, aluminium, humans)

Question 6

What is static electricity?

Answer 6

Static electricity builds up when two charged material are rubbed against each other causing friction
This friction causes electrons to be transferred from one material to the other.
But all atoms want to be neutrally charged so electrons jump over to a positively charged atom causing sparks to fly