(P2)Static Electricity

Question 1

How does static electricity occur?

Answer 1

When electric charges are transferred onto or off an insulator

Question 2

How do insulators become negatively charged?

Answer 2

When electrons move onto the insulator from a cloth due to friction (eg. rubbing a polythene rod with a cloth - negative rod, positive cloth)

Question 3

How do insulators become positively charged?

Answer 3

When electrons move off the insulator and onto the cloth due to friction (positive rod, negative cloth)

Question 4

How do you receive an electric shock?

Answer 4

Electrons transfer to your clothes, which are insulators. If you then touch a metal object, the electrons conduct to the earth and you will get a shock. This is an example of earthing

Question 5

How do lightning strikes occur?

Answer 5

Ice particles in clouds gain electrons and a negative charge by friction as they rub against each other. The electrons in the ground are repelled by the cloud, which cause a lightning strike.

Question 6

What happens during electrostatic induction?

Answer 6

An opposite charge is induced on a neutral insulator by another charged insulator, which causes a force of attraction.
(Balloon - negative, wall- neutral)

Question 7

How is static electricity used in insecticide sprayers?

Answer 7

Nozzle of spray is connected to electricity supply, droplets get the same kind of static charge, droplets repel each other so spray spreads out evenly.

Question 8

What is an electric field?

Answer 8

A region around a charged particle that may experience a non-contact force

Question 9

What direction does the electric field from a positive point charges move?

Answer 9

Radially outwards

Question 10

What will happen to a negative electron if it is placed in the electric field of a positive nucleus?

Answer 10

It will be attracted to the positive charge, which explains why materials gain electrons when they are rubbed (static electricity)