Static Electricity Flashcards
Conductors
allows electrons to move freely
example Metal, Water
Insulator
hold tightly to their electrons
example rubber
Static Electricity
a stationary electric charge that is built up on a material
Friction:
Occurs when two object are rubbed together and electrons from one object transfers to another object
Charging by induction:
Methods used to temporary charge an object without touching the object e.g. seduction
Charging by contact (conduction)
Aka charging by conduction. When a charged object comes in contact (touched) with a neutral object, the electrons move from high concentration to the low concentration
To discharge
Means to get rid of any excess charges
Grounding (neutralizing)
When a charged object loses its extra charge by transferring electrons to or from the Earth’s surface (to become neutral).
Sparks
Quick release of electrons between two objects that are oppositely charged e.g lightning
Lightning
Lower clouds -> negatively
Humid air: conducting pathway
Surface of the ground -> temporarily positive
3 Laws of Attraction and Repulsion
opposite charges attract
Charged objects attract neutral
Like charges repel each other
electron affinity
the tendency of a material to attract electrons (affinity means natural attraction)
electrostatic series
a list of materials (in order of their electron affinity) that helps determine which material will become positively and negatively charged when rubbed together.
lightning rod
A lightning rod is a metal pole with a wire attached to it that
runs down to the ground. The main purpose of a lightning rod is to provide a point removed from the main structure of a building where a stream of electrically charged particles is more likely to form.
