Static electricity
What is static electricity?
- Buildup of electrons of an object
- Accurately referred as unbalanced charges because the electrical charge can move to
an object with a different charge than itself
- Movement of electrons from a substance to another is what causes a small shock
Law of charges
1. Unlike charges attract
2. Like charges repel
3. Charged objects attract uncharged objects
Making Sense of Charges
Within each atom, there are protons (positively charged) and electrons (negative charge)
- Neutral or uncharged (not uncharged) objects contain a balance of protons and
electrons
- Positive objects contain a large amount of protons
- Negative objects contain a large amount of electrons
Conductors - materials that allows charges to move freely (example: metals)
Insulators - materials preventing charges from moving freely (example: non metals)
Superconductors
Superconductors are materials that offer little or no resistance to the flow of charges
- Certain materials become superconductors when they’re subjected to super low
temperatures
- Made of metal alloys/ceramics
- Used in electric generators, high-voltage power lines and supercomputers
- Extremely efficient but dangerous
- Certain metals/ceramics when cooled to absolute 0 degrees become superconductors
Neutralizing Unbalanced Charges
The accumulation of charge on an object will be discharged, also known as neutralization. We
experience this discharge of electrons as small shock
- In discharges, electrons enter an object to make up for shortage or leave an object to get
rid of excess electrons
- Grounding objects is an easy way to neutralize before too much charge builds up. This
involves releasing charge into earth which can absorb extra electrons
Static Electricity in Nature
Static electricity can be used in technology, but can also be used in nature
- Lightning is a discharge of static electricity building up in the atmosphere
- Electric eels electrocute their prey by producing buildup of static electricity and
controlling the discharge
What is static electricity?
- Buildup of electrons of an object
- Accurately referred as unbalanced charges because the electrical charge can move to
an object with a different charge than itself
- Movement of electrons from a substance to another is what causes a small shock
Law of charges
1. Unlike charges attract
2. Like charges repel
3. Charged objects attract uncharged objects
Making Sense of Charges
Within each atom, there are protons (positively charged) and electrons (negative charge)
- Neutral or uncharged (not uncharged) objects contain a balance of protons and
electrons
- Positive objects contain a large amount of protons
- Negative objects contain a large amount of electrons
Conductors - materials that allows charges to move freely (example: metals)
Insulators - materials preventing charges from moving freely (example: non metals)
Superconductors
Superconductors are materials that offer little or no resistance to the flow of charges
- Certain materials become superconductors when they’re subjected to super low
temperatures
- Made of metal alloys/ceramics
- Used in electric generators, high-voltage power lines and supercomputers
- Extremely efficient but dangerous
- Certain metals/ceramics when cooled to absolute 0 degrees become superconductors
Neutralizing Unbalanced Charges
The accumulation of charge on an object will be discharged, also known as neutralization. We
experience this discharge of electrons as small shock
- In discharges, electrons enter an object to make up for shortage or leave an object to get
rid of excess electrons
- Grounding objects is an easy way to neutralize before too much charge builds up. This
involves releasing charge into earth which can absorb extra electrons
Static Electricity in Nature
Static electricity can be used in technology, but can also be used in nature
- Lightning is a discharge of static electricity building up in the atmosphere
- Electric eels electrocute their prey by producing buildup of static electricity and
controlling the discharge
