Static Electricity Flashcards

1
Q

What can happen when insulating materials are rubbed together?

A

They can become electrically charged

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2
Q

Why can insulators become electrically charged when rubbed together?

A

Electrons transfer from one material onto the other, the material gaining electrons becomes negatively charged and the material losing electrons becomes equally positively charged

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3
Q

What would happen when two electrically charged objects are brought close together?

A

They exert a force on each other

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4
Q

What would happen when two identically charged objects are brought close together?

A

They exert a repulsive force on each other and repel

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5
Q

What would happen when two oppositely charged objects are brought close together?

A

They exert an attractive force on each other and attract

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6
Q

What is an example of a non-contact force?

A

The repulsive or attractive force acting between two electrically charged objects

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7
Q

Why do we feel an electrical shock?

A

When an object builds up an electrostatic charge, it needs to be earthed, electrons flow to/from the earth to balance the charge, this can also occur if you touch a charged object whilst you are earthed and if earthing occurs through a person/animal it causes an electric shock

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8
Q

Why does lightning occur?

A

Clouds can build up an electrostatic charge, when this charge becomes large enough, the clouds discharge via the air to the earth

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9
Q

Why does a charged balloon stick to the wall?

A

When a positively charged balloon is placed next to a wall the positive charges near the balloon get repelled to other parts of the wall, this leaves an area of the wall with a negative charge, which attracts the positively charged balloon towards the wall, making the balloon stick

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10
Q

How does earthing remove excess charge?

A

It provides a path with a low resistance for the electrons to flow either from the device or towards the device to reduce the charge build up

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11
Q

How does static electricity cause danger when fuelling cars?

A

Static charge can build up due to the friction between the pipes and the fuel, when the charge builds up, a spark may be discharged, the spark could start a fire if it reacts with the flammable fuel and this is resolved by earthing the vehicle and pump

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12
Q

What is an electric field?

A

A region where an electric charge will experience a non-contact force

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13
Q

What direction do the field lines in an electric fields point?

A

In the direction that a positive charge would move

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14
Q

What is the appearance of electric field lines in a parallel field?

A

Straight lines, which are parallel to each other and point from the positive plate to negative plate and the the edges the lines are partially curved

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15
Q

How can you use electric fields to explain static electricity?

A

The object that is statically charged will generate an electric field and this field attracts the electrons on other objects causing a flow of charge resulting in sparks

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