Static Electricity

Question 1

How does static charge build up?

Answer 1

When two insulating materials are rubbed together, electrons are transferred off one onto the other leaving one of the materials positively charged and the other negatively charged. The build-up of static is caused by the friction between the two materials

Question 2

Which subatomic particle moves when an object becomes charged?

Answer 2

Electrons

Question 3

How can a charged conductor be discharged safely?

Answer 3

Connecting it to the earth

Question 4

What is electric current?

Answer 4

The rate of flow of electrical charge

Question 5

What is the relationship between charge and voltage?

Answer 5

As charge increases, the voltage increases

Question 6

How is a spark caused?

Answer 6

If voltage gets big enough, there is a spark

Question 7

What is the equation for charge?

Answer 7

charge = current x time

Question 8

How can you test if the material is charged?

Answer 8

Suspending a charged rod with a known charge on a thread and seeing if it repels or attracts another rod. If the rod repels then the rod you are testing has the same charge as the suspended rod and vice versa

Question 9

How does static electricity work in clouds?

Answer 9

When rain drops and ice in clouds bump together, they knock off (transfer) electrons which leaves the top of the cloud positively charged and the bottom negatively charged. This causes a huge voltage resulting in a huge spark