Uses And Dangers Of Static Electricity

Question 0

How does paint sprayers with an electrostatic charge work:

Answer 0

Spray gun is charged, which charges up small drops of paint.

Each paint drop repels all the others, as they all have same charge, so get a very fine spray

Object to be painted an opposite charge to gun.

Attracts the fine spray of paint

Method gives an even coat and hardly any paint is wasted

Question 1

Uses of static electricity:

Answer 1

Paint sprayers use electrostatic charges to get an even coat

Question 2

Dangers of static electricity:

Answer 2

Electrostatic electricity can cause a fuelling nightmare

Question 3

How can refuelling cause an explosion because of its electrostatic charge:

Answer 3

Fuel flows out of a filler pipe into a car, then static can build up

Easily lead to a spark which might cause an explosion

The problems with sparks can be solved by earthing charged objects

Question 4

How can you stop electrostatic charge building up:

Answer 4

Objects can be earthed

Question 5

How to Earthing object:

Answer 5

Sparks can be prevented by connecting a charged object to the ground using a conductor - this is called earthing

Question 6

Why does earthing objects prevent sparks:

Answer 6

Earthing provides an easy route for the static charges to travel into the ground.

This means no charge can build up.

Question 7

When earthing objects where do the electrons go:

Answer 7

The electrons flow down the conductor to the ground if the charge is negative

Electrons flow up the conductor from the ground if the charge is positive

Question 8

Why must fuel tankers be fuelled:

Answer 8

To prevent any sparks that might cause the fuel to explode