Static Electricity

Question 1

Electric charge

Answer 1

Positive or negative property of a particle

Question 2

Electric shock

Answer 2

Reflex response to the passing of electricity through the body

Question 3

Static electricity

Answer 3

Electricity caused by the build up of electric charges on the surfaces of a non-conductor of electricity

Question 4

Electric spark

Answer 4

Flash of light produced by electric discharge

Question 5

Electric discharge

Answer 5

Flow of electric charge through a gas, liquid or solid

Question 6

Give examples of materials that are charged by being rubbed.

Answer 6

Plastic, Perspex, and glass with nylon, wool or silk.

Question 7

What is transferred during friction between two materials?

Answer 7

It transfers electrons between the two materials
E.g. if you rub a plastic ruler with a cloth, the plastic pulls electrons from the cloth. The plastic ruler gains a negative charge and the cloth gains a positive charge

Question 8

What happens when electrons move from one material to another?

Answer 8

When electrons move from one material to another, a positive charge is created on the surface of the first material

Question 9

What type of objects (in terms of charges) attract each other?

Answer 9

Objects with different electric charges attract each other.

Question 10

What is attraction?

Answer 10

The tendency of particles with opposite electric charges to move towards each other

Question 11

What is repulsion?

Answer 11

The tendency of particles with the same electric charge to separate or move away from each other.

Question 12

Why are the two types of charge?

Answer 12

Positive (+) and Negative (-) charges

Question 13

What causes a static electric spark?

Answer 13

A static electricity spark is a flash of light caused by the electric discharge of static electricity.

Question 14

What is the most common spark you can experience?

Answer 14

A small one that can jump from your finger to a metal object

Question 15

Are the small sparks caused by static electricity you feel dangerous?

Answer 15

Although those sparks cannot harm you they can be dangerous if you are near fuel because it could cause a fire.

Question 16

Name a form of natural static.

Answer 16

Lighting

Question 17

What is a lightning bolt?

Answer 17

A highly charged form of static electricity that is formed because of differences between two electric fields

Question 18

What is thunder and how is it caused?

Answer 18

Thunder is the sound we hear when we see lightning, it is caused by a shock wave created in the air.

Question 19

What is the cause of lighting?

Answer 19

Lighting is produced in thunderstorms when liquid and ice particles collide and build up large electric fields in the clouds.

Once these electric fields become large enough, a giant spark (the lightning bolt) occurs between the or between them and the ground like static electricity, the lighting spark can occur between clouds, between the cloud and air, or between the cloud and the ground.

Question 20

What are some of the dangers of lighting?

Answer 20

• The temperature inside lightning bolt or spark can be hotter than the surface of the Sun
• If lightning strikes dry vegetation the heat energy transferred can catch fire

Question 21

How do you prevent being struck by lightning?

List 5 ways

Answer 21

•STAY AWAY FROM TREES
-Lightning strikes tall objects such as trees and the lightning may jump from the tree to the person underneath

•DO NOT RUN
-Running creates friction which increases the chance of static energy that can link up with the lightning to create a spark and a shock

•AVOID USING WATER
-Water also conducts electricity, so you could be electrocuted if you are touching water

•AVOID USING LANDLINE TELEPHONES
-Electricity follows wiring and metal pipes, this can lead to you to you being electrocuted

•AVOID USING CELLPHONES OR ELECTRIC DEVICES
-Lightning bolts or sparks tend to follow the shortest route to the ground (which may be through your electronic device)