Static Electricity

Question 1

What is static electricity?

Answer 1

The build up of charge on insulating materials which can cause sparks when discharged

Question 2

All materials contain charge, because they contain ________ protons or negative _____________. Normally, these charges _______ each other out which means they are overall _______

Answer 2

positive, electrons, cancel, neutral

Question 3

If 2 materials are rubbed together, what happens?

Answer 3

The friction causes electrons to transfer from one material to the other

Question 4

Why does a charge not build up when 2 conducting materials are rubbed together?

Answer 4

The electrons are able to move therefore they just flow straight back again so no charge builds up

Question 5

In insulating materials being rubbed together, the material that lost electrons has a ________ _____ charge, and the material that gained electrons has a _____ ______ charge

Answer 5

positive, static, negative, static

Question 6

Which way electrons transfer from one material to another depends on what?

Answer 6

Depends on the specific materials

Question 7

How are sparks created?

Answer 7

When an object gains a lot of negative electrons, a potential difference will develop between the object and the earth or any earthed objects which are at 0 volts. If the potential difference between the charged object and the earthed object is large enough, the electrons can jump across the gap creating a spark.