Physics
Static Electricity: An imbalance of electric charges on an object, the charge cannot dissipate
until there is an electric current or an electric discharge.
❖ Charges are stationary (they don’t move)
❖ Static electricity does not move through wires
❖ Static electricity in a thunderstorm is lightning
❖ When we empty a dryer it is static cling
Alternative definition: Different materials create friction together/ bump into each other a lot,
electrons will leave one object and collect on another.
The Laws of Attraction and Repulsion: Opposites attract and the likes repel. Neutral and a
charge will attract, neutral and neutral will do nothing.
Conductors: Charges can move, mostly metals, do not hold static charges, e- can move around
freely, transfers heat, energy, electricity, etc
Insulators: Charge stayed in spot when impacted, charges don’t move, contains heat, energy,
electricity, etc, insulators protect us from electric shock, e- can’t move freely from atom to
atom, large charges can be built up on insulators surface
Electrostatic Series:
❖ Ability of a substance to hold onto their electrons
❖ Determines which substance will become negatively or positively charged
❖ Lost —-> positive (higher up on the list)
❖ Gained —-> negative (lower down the list)
Charging by Contact:
FRICTION: A charge caused by friction, or rubbing objects together (transferring electrons)
CONTACT: A charged object is touched by a neutral object, electrons will jump over to neutral,
charging by contact can also be called charging by conduction
INDUCTION: A charge caused by bringing a charged object close to a neutral object, this
therefore creating a positive charge on one side and negative on the other of the neutral;
temporarily.
, Metals: Large cores and few positive charges, weakly held electrons are free to move around to
conduct energy >> why metals are good conductors (don’t have a hold) =positively
Non-Metals: Smaller cores and many positive charges, many electrons that are tightly held, do
not conduct energy >> why non-metals are good insulators (have a hold) =negatively
Discharge: Build up of a charge can be dangerous, leading to fire, sparks and damage. When a
charged object is discharged, all of its excess electric charges or electrons are removed, this
therefore returns it to neutral.
GROUNDING: The charged object will be connected to a wire that is also connected to the
ground. The wire allows the electrons to flow into the earth.
DISCHARGE AT A POINT: Another way to discharge easily is to make the charged object have a
pointed end. Conductors that are pointed at the end will lose their charge fast. This is because
the electrons will move to the point, therefore building a lot of charge in that area. Like charges
repel, and as they do, they get pushed off the point; discharging the electrons.
Bill Nye Worksheet:
1. Static electricity = electricity that doesn’t flow/ stays
2. Very common/ dangerous form of static electricity is lightning
3. Static charge = when electrons build up on something
4. Opposite electric charges attract
5. Named after: Robert Van Der Graaff, used to deposit electrons in certain places, name=
Van Der Graaff Generator
6. Electrical charges end up all around the hollow metal ball
7. His wig stood out because all the charges are the same (negative), negative and negative
repel, which is why they stick out
8. After the tumble dryer, socks stick together because there was no humidity in the air, it
was dry, leaving the clothes to rub together creating static
9. Electrons= charged particles (negative), part of atoms
10. Lightning can strike backwards; ground to cloud
11. 50-100 lightning bolts hit the ground all over earth each second
12. Greek word for amber is electron
13. The function of a lightning rod is if there is a storm, the electric charges go through the
rods and into the ground (pointed= discharge)
14. In a lightning storm, you are safest in your car
EXTRA NOTE:
The human body is a fair conductor as it ingests conductors such as carbons and salt water
(oxygen, hydrogen and sodium).
Static Electricity: An imbalance of electric charges on an object, the charge cannot dissipate
until there is an electric current or an electric discharge.
❖ Charges are stationary (they don’t move)
❖ Static electricity does not move through wires
❖ Static electricity in a thunderstorm is lightning
❖ When we empty a dryer it is static cling
Alternative definition: Different materials create friction together/ bump into each other a lot,
electrons will leave one object and collect on another.
The Laws of Attraction and Repulsion: Opposites attract and the likes repel. Neutral and a
charge will attract, neutral and neutral will do nothing.
Conductors: Charges can move, mostly metals, do not hold static charges, e- can move around
freely, transfers heat, energy, electricity, etc
Insulators: Charge stayed in spot when impacted, charges don’t move, contains heat, energy,
electricity, etc, insulators protect us from electric shock, e- can’t move freely from atom to
atom, large charges can be built up on insulators surface
Electrostatic Series:
❖ Ability of a substance to hold onto their electrons
❖ Determines which substance will become negatively or positively charged
❖ Lost —-> positive (higher up on the list)
❖ Gained —-> negative (lower down the list)
Charging by Contact:
FRICTION: A charge caused by friction, or rubbing objects together (transferring electrons)
CONTACT: A charged object is touched by a neutral object, electrons will jump over to neutral,
charging by contact can also be called charging by conduction
INDUCTION: A charge caused by bringing a charged object close to a neutral object, this
therefore creating a positive charge on one side and negative on the other of the neutral;
temporarily.
, Metals: Large cores and few positive charges, weakly held electrons are free to move around to
conduct energy >> why metals are good conductors (don’t have a hold) =positively
Non-Metals: Smaller cores and many positive charges, many electrons that are tightly held, do
not conduct energy >> why non-metals are good insulators (have a hold) =negatively
Discharge: Build up of a charge can be dangerous, leading to fire, sparks and damage. When a
charged object is discharged, all of its excess electric charges or electrons are removed, this
therefore returns it to neutral.
GROUNDING: The charged object will be connected to a wire that is also connected to the
ground. The wire allows the electrons to flow into the earth.
DISCHARGE AT A POINT: Another way to discharge easily is to make the charged object have a
pointed end. Conductors that are pointed at the end will lose their charge fast. This is because
the electrons will move to the point, therefore building a lot of charge in that area. Like charges
repel, and as they do, they get pushed off the point; discharging the electrons.
Bill Nye Worksheet:
1. Static electricity = electricity that doesn’t flow/ stays
2. Very common/ dangerous form of static electricity is lightning
3. Static charge = when electrons build up on something
4. Opposite electric charges attract
5. Named after: Robert Van Der Graaff, used to deposit electrons in certain places, name=
Van Der Graaff Generator
6. Electrical charges end up all around the hollow metal ball
7. His wig stood out because all the charges are the same (negative), negative and negative
repel, which is why they stick out
8. After the tumble dryer, socks stick together because there was no humidity in the air, it
was dry, leaving the clothes to rub together creating static
9. Electrons= charged particles (negative), part of atoms
10. Lightning can strike backwards; ground to cloud
11. 50-100 lightning bolts hit the ground all over earth each second
12. Greek word for amber is electron
13. The function of a lightning rod is if there is a storm, the electric charges go through the
rods and into the ground (pointed= discharge)
14. In a lightning storm, you are safest in your car
EXTRA NOTE:
The human body is a fair conductor as it ingests conductors such as carbons and salt water
(oxygen, hydrogen and sodium).
