topic 11 static electricity

Question 1

what happens when metals transfer electrons ?

Answer 1

the electrons moves straight back to the original holder of them, this is because they can move on conducting materials.

Question 2

what happens when electrons are transfered over to insulating materials?

Answer 2

with insulating materials the electrons cant flow back so the transfer caused by the friction gives a positive static charge to the material that lost the electrons and gives a negative static charge on the material that gained the electrons.

an example of this is the cloth and rod experiment.

Question 3

what happens if an object keeps on gaining negative electrons?

Answer 3

as more electrons are transfered and the size of the charge increases a potential diffrence will occur between it and everything on earth. If the ‘Earthed’ object is large enough then electrons can jump across the gap which is what creates a spark.