Static Electricity

17 October 2008

Meherzad Bhathena

Static Electricity ➢ Static electricity or electrostatics refers to effects caused by stationary charges ➢ Charges can move from substance to another but do not flow through the substances The law of electrostatics: • •

Like charges repel Unlike charges attract

Objects take on charge when their atoms gain or lose electrons ➢ Recall from last unit, that atoms are made up of protons, with a positive charge and electrons with a negative charge ➢ Since protons are heavy and located in the nucleus, they never move and can’t be lost or gained ➢ However the light electrons orbiting the nucleus can move Objects can take on two basic types of charge 1. Negative – Objects become negative when they have an excess of electrons A very small percentage of the atoms in the substance will take on extra electron. However, when they substance is considered as a whole (with so many atoms) the substance can take on an overall charge. Note: 4 protons and 5 electrons on the atom would be a -1. 2. Positive – Objects become positive when they lose electrons or they have a deficit of electrons A very small percentage of the atoms in the substance will lose an electron. However when they substance is considered as a whole (with so many atoms) the substance can take on an overall charge Note: 4 protons and 3 electrons the charge on the atom would be +1

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