Static electricity - Paper 1 Flashcards
To revise statice electricity (paper 1)
What objects can create an electric field?
Any charged object
How is the strength of the electric field related to the distance from the object?
The further away from a charged object the weaker the field
what is the name of the force when charged objects attract or repel each other? is this a contact or non contact force?
Electrostatic attraction/repulsion. it is an example of a non contact force
Sketch the field lines around a positive charge.
A radial field with the arrows pointing away from the charge
Sketch the field lines around a negative charge.
A radial field with the arrows pointing towards the charge
How are static charges created?
Insulating materials are rubbed against each other. the force of friction can rub electrons onto or off the material.
If an insulator gains electrons what happens to its charge?
It becomes negative
If an insulator loses electrons what happens to its charge?
It becomes positive
If two positive charges are close to each other, what will happen?
They will repel
If two negative charges are close to each other, what will happen?
They will repel
If a negative and a positive charge are close to each other, what will happen?
They will attract
What happens to an object that is isolated from the earth if a static charge builds up?
As static charge builds up the potential difference on the object increases. eventually the p.d. gets so large that the charge can jump from the object to the earth in the form of spark.
What do electric field lines show us?
The closer the lines the stronger the field/force.
If the line get further away from each other the field/force gets weaker.
The arrow heads show the direction of force a positive charge would feel.
What is an electric field?
The region where a charged object would experience a force
