Static electricity Flashcards
how do you electrically charge a material?
-explain
rub 2 insulators together
-frictional forces rub electrons off from one insulator to the other
how is a build-up of static charge a potential danger when refuelling aircraft or vehicles? how is this prevented?
-fuel running through the pipes generates friction needed to create a static charge.
-aircraft are earthed with a conductor during re-fuelling
how can all static objects be discharged?
earthing (connecting them to the earth through a conductor)
what so all charged objects have around them?
an electric field
what does a van de graaf do?
-removed electrons off an object (leaving behind a positive charge)
what do closer lines in an electrical field diagram indicate?
field lines reinforce eachother and result in a greater force
state the two types of field:
where are they found?
radial and uniform fields
around a point
between oppositely charged plates
Give one reason why earthing reduces the risk of fire. [1 mark]
The earth wire discharges the aircraft to prevent sparking which could cause a fire.
Explain how the worker can prevent a build-up of charge when pumping fuel into the aircraft. [3 marks]
-They can use a conductor to connect the aircraft and the ground -
- this allows negative charge to move onto the aircraft
-which neutralises the positive charge.
define an electric field
region where an electric charge
experiences a force