Static electricity

Question 1

What type of materials can’t conduct electricity due to fixed electrons?

Answer 1

Insulators

Insulators prevent the flow of electrons, allowing static electricity to build up.

Question 2

Why does static electricity not work in conductors?

Answer 2

Because electrons can flow away

Conductors have delocalized electrons which allow them to conduct electricity.

Question 3

What are the two types of electric charges?

Answer 3

Positive and negative

Question 4

What happens when the number of protons equals the number of electrons in an object?

Answer 4

There is no charge

The charges cancel each other out.

Question 5

What charge do protons, electrons, and neutrons have?

Answer 5

Protons: +1, Electrons: -1, Neutrons: 0

Question 6

Where are protons and neutrons located in an atom?

Answer 6

In the nucleus

Question 7

What happens to electrons when two insulators are rubbed together?

Answer 7

Electrons are transferred from one object to the other

Question 8

What charge does an object gain if it loses electrons?

Answer 8

Positively charged

Question 9

What charge does an object gain if it gains electrons?

Answer 9

Negatively charged

Question 10

What occurs when two bodies have the same type of charge?

Answer 10

They repel each other

Question 11

What happens when two bodies have opposite charges?

Answer 11

They attract each other

Question 12

Fill in the blank: The piece of paper is attracted to the Van de Graaf generator because the electrons are attracted to the _______.

Answer 12

positively charged dome

Question 13

What is required for the attraction between the piece of paper and the Van de Graaf generator to occur?

Answer 13

A supply of electrons (e.g. a route to Earth)

Question 14

What effect does rubbing two conductors together have?

Answer 14

Electrons flow in/out, cancelling out effects and keeping it neutral

Question 15

What happens to a snake when it flicks towards a positively charged dome?

Answer 15

The snake is attracted to the dome and loses electrons, becoming positively charged

This causes the snake to move away from the dome due to repulsion.

Question 16

What is the main danger of static electricity?

Answer 16

A spark can cause a fire or an explosion

Sparking occurs when charged objects are close but not touching.

Question 17

What occurs during sparking?

Answer 17

Charge jumps through the air from a highly negative object to a highly positive object

This is an attempt to balance the charges.

Question 18

List three dangers associated with sparks.

Answer 18

• Lightning
• Refuelling an airplane
• Operating theatre explosions

Sparks can ignite fuel or cause explosions in environments with flammable gases.

Question 19

What is earthing?

Answer 19

An easy route of least resistance to the ground for electrons

It allows electrons to flow to/from the earth, neutralizing charged objects.

Question 20

How is static electricity used in spray painting?

Answer 20

Droplets are positively charged, repelling each other and attracting to negatively charged objects

This ensures an even coat and coverage of unfilled areas.

Question 21

Describe how ink-jet printers utilize static electricity.

Answer 21

Spots of ink are given an electric charge as they leave the nozzle

Deflective plates with alternating charges guide the ink drops to the correct position on the paper.

Question 22

What is electrostatic induction?

Answer 22

Electrostatic induction is the process by which a charged object can induce a charge distribution in a nearby neutral object without direct contact.

Question 23

True or False: Electrostatic induction requires physical contact between charged and neutral objects.

Answer 23

False

Question 24

Fill in the blank: In electrostatic induction, the side of the neutral object closest to the charged object becomes __________ charged.

Answer 24

oppositely

Question 25

What happens to the overall charge of a neutral object during electrostatic induction?

Answer 25

The overall charge of the neutral object remains neutral; however, a separation of charges occurs within it.