Chapter 15

Static Electricity

At the end of this chapter,

you should be able to
Show understanding that
electrostatic charging by rubbing
involves a transfer of electrons.
State that there are positive and
negatives charges and that charge is
measured in coulombs.
State that unlike charges attract and
like charges repel.

At the end of this chapter,

you should be able to
Describe an electric field as a region
in which an electric charge
experiences force.
Draw the field of an isolated point
charge and show understanding that
the direction of the field lines gives
the direction of the force acting on a
positive charge.
Describe experiments to show
electrostatic charging by conduction.

Quiz Time
Use a piece of tissue paper to
rub a plastic ruler. Place the
rubbed side of the plastic ruler
near your friends hair. What do
you observe and why did it
happen?
A few strands of hair are
attracted to the rubbed
surface of the ruler.
This is caused by
electrostatics.

15.1 Laws of Electrostatics

Electrostatics is the study of static
electric charges or electric
charges at rest.
Static electricity happens when
positive charges and negative
charges within a material are
not equal.

Structure of an Atom
The atoms of all substances contain
both positively-charged particles
and negatively-charged particles.

+ +

nucleus

electron

+
nucleus

orbits of
electrons

proton
neutrons

Structure of an Atom
All matter are made of invisible particles
called atoms. (Can be seen using an
electron microscope.)

+ +

nucleus

electron

+
nucleus

orbits of
electrons

proton
neutrons

Structure of an Atom
Each atom has negatively-charged
electrons orbiting round a
massive nucleus
which
consists of positively-charged
particles called protons and
neutral particles called neutrons
- electron
- proton
- neutron

Structure of an Atom
An atom is electrically balanced
(uncharged) when the amount of
equal
protons is
to the amount
of electrons.

A substance that is uncharged.

Structure of an Atom
Atom is positively-charged when
the amount of protons is more than
the amount of electrons.

A substance that is positively-charged.

Structure of an Atom
Atom is negatively-charged when
the amount of protons is less than
the amount of electrons.

A substance that is negatively-charged.

Measurement of electric
charges.
Electric charges are measured in
coulomb ( C )

Q=It
where Q is electric charges (C)
I is electric current (A)
t is time (s)

Measurement of electric
charges.
The electric charge for one electron
or proton is 1.6 x 10-19 C

15.2

Electric Field

An electric field is a region where

an electric charge experiences an
electric force.
The direction of the field is defined
as the direction of the force on a
small positive charge.

15.2

Electric Field

15.2

Electric Field

15.2

Electric Field

The strength of the field is indicated by

how close the field lines are to
each other. The closer the field lines,
the stronger is the electric field in that
region.
The strength of the field is stronger
nearer the charge and decreases
further away from the charge.

15.2

Electric Field

15.2

Electric Field

15.2

Electric Field

+++ ++++
-

+
l

l l

l l

+++ ++++

15.2
Electric Field

15.3 Laws of Electrostatics

A material can be charged by
friction.
Static electricity occurs when two
different insulating materials are
rubbed against each other.

15.3 Laws of Electrostatics

During charging, electrons
are
transferred from one material to
another material

15.3 Laws of Electrostatics

A material become positivelycharged when some electrons are
lost by the material.
wool

+
-

+
+

Wool becomes
positively-charged

+
-

+
polythene

15.3 Laws of Electrostatics

A material become negativelycharged when some electrons are
gained by the material.
wool

+
-

+
+

+
-

Polythene becomes
negatively-charged

+
-

+
polythene

15.3 Laws of Electrostatics

Charges are neither created nor
destroyed in the friction process, it
is only transferred from one
place to another.
(Similar to Energy)

Quiz Time
Rub a balloon on a woolen
sweater. Then place it near some
bits of paper. Observe what has
happen?
The paper will be attracted to
the balloon.

Quiz Time
Run another balloon on a woolen
sweater and placed it near to the
balloon that was previously
rubbed with the woolen sweater.
Observe has happen?
The balloons will repel one
another.

From what we have learned so far, we

can conclude that:
Only two charges (positive and
negative) exist.
Friction produces 2 different kinds of
charges on different materials.
Positively-charged material gives
away electrons while negativelycharged material takes in electron.
Unlike charges attract while like
charges repel.