FRICTION,

CONDUCTION AND
INDUCTION
HOW DO YOU MEASURE
“CHARGE”

• The unit of measure for electrical charge is the Coulomb

(C). In equations it is symbolized by a “q”
• One Coulomb is equal to the charge of 6.25x1018
electrons (-) or protons (+).
• One electron, or proton, has a charge of 1.60 x 10-19 C.
 COULOMB’S LAW

• The strength of electric force

increases with increasing electric
charges.

• The strength of electric force varies

according to the distance between
charged objects.
Charles-Augustin de Coulomb (1736-

• The electric force between two 1806)

objects depends on the types of

3
charges.
HOW DO YOU CHARGE AN
OBJECT?

• There are three ways to charge an object:

1. Charge by Friction
2. Charge by Conduction
3. Charge by Induction
 HOW DO YOU CHARGE AN
OBJECT?

• All objects begin neutral & can become positively or

negatively charged.
• A positively charged object has more positive charges
than negative charges.
• A negatively charged object has more negative charges
than positive charges.
 STATIC ELECTRICITY
• When one object or material rubs over another, electrons
are often transferred from one to the other.

• If electrons are rubbed off, then the object or material will

have a positive charge.

• If electrons are gathered then the result is a negative charge.

• As charges (electrons) build up,

there is always a tendency for them
to return to their original locations.
All that is needed is a pathway for 6

charges to use.
 CHARGING OBJECTS

• You can charge an object through:

• Friction – the transfer of electrons from one object to
the other by rubbing them together.
• Conduction – by having two objects TOUCH each
other and transfer electrons from one object to the
next.
• Induction – By inducing electrons to move from one
object to the other.
 THE TRIBOELECTRIC SERIES CHART
• The Triboelectric Series chart shows how Triboelectric
materials are ranked by their tendency to gain
Series
or lose electrons when rubbed with other
materials. Vinyl Gains
• If two materials are rubbed together, the Rubber Electrons
one higher on the list gives up electrons Ebonite
and become positively charged. Polyethylene
• The material lower on the list will gain Cotton Silk
those electrons and become negatively
charged. Wool
• Factors that can affect the ability of materials to Glass
Loses
hold charges: humidity, surface roughness and Acetate Electrons
8

rubbing force. Fur / Hair

ELECTRICITY IN CLOUDS
 FRICTION
• Electrostatic series is a list that ranks objects ability to take
negative charges.
Rubber
Ebonite Items at top
Polyethylene take negatives
Cotton
Silk
Wool
Glass
Items at bottom
Acetate
lose negatives
Fur / Hair
 Items at top
EXAMPLE #1 take negatives

Your cat rubs against a rubber balloon. What

will be the charge on the balloon? Your cat’s
fur?
Rubber
Rubber
Rubber balloon
Ebonite becomes
Polyethylene negative
Cotton
Silk
Wool Cat’s fur
Glass becomes
Acetate positive
Fur / /
Fur Hair
Hair Negatives
 Items at top
EXAMPLE #2 take negatives

In a lab, you take a piece of neutral wool & neutral

polyethylene & rub them together. What will be their
charges?

Rubber Polyethylene
Ebonite balloon
Polyethylene
Polyethylene becomes
Cotton negative
Silk
Wool
Wool Wool
Glass
Negative becomes
Acetate
Fur / Hair positive
 EXAMPLE #3
• In a lab, you rub a piece of cotton & ebonite together.
Then you rub a piece of silk & wool together.
• You then bring the charged piece of cotton & the charged
piece of silk together. What will happen?

Rubber Cotton is +
Ebonite - Silk is -
Polyethylene
Cotton +
Silk - They
Wool
Glass
+ would
Acetate ATTRACT
Fur / Hair
 You rub your hair with a balloon.
Explain using words & pictures, why
your hair “sticks up”.

1st Hair & balloon are _

+_ _
both neutral
+ +
2nd Rubber balloon takes
negative charges from the hair.
So, balloon becomes negatively
charged & hair becomes
positively charged _+ + _

3rd Since hair is positive &

like charges repel, hair
sticks up!!!
CHARGING BY CONDUCTION

• An object can be charged by touching it with

another object that already has a charge. The
resulting object will then have the same charge
but weaker in strength than the original object.
CHARGING BY CONDUCTION
• This image shows how a positive charged object
alters the charge on the globe via conduction.
CHARGING BY CONDUCTION
• This image shows how a negative charged object
alters the charge on the globe via conduction.
CHARGING BY INDUCTION

• Objects do not touch - one object is charged, one is

neutral.
• Proximity of the charged object causes (induces) the
charges in the neutral object to separate.
CHARGING BY INDUCTION
• This image shows how a negative charged object alters
the charge on the globe via induction.
CHARGING BY INDUCTION
• This image shows how a positive charged object alters
the charge on the globe via induction.
INSULATORS AND CONDUCTORS
• Insulator – is a substance in which the electrons
are so tightly bound to the atoms making up the
material that they are not free to move to a
neighbouring atom. I.E. they cannot conduct
electricity.
• Conductors – allows electrons to flor freely from
one atom to another as the atom has the
capability of allowing electrons to move freely.
 GOOD INSULATORS AND
CONDUCTORS

Good Insulators Good Conductors Semi-Conductors

Oil Silver Carbon
Fur Copper Germanium
Wool Gold Silicon
Rubber Aluminum Selenium
Glass Tungsten Polyacetylene
Plastic Nickel Silicon Carbide
 KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER

• Two types of charges – positive (+) & negative (-).

• “Opposite Charges Attract” and “Like Charges Repel.”
• The electrostatic series is a list that identifies what
objects will take negative charges from another
object.
• Only negative charges move.
• Three methods to charge an object: friction,
conduction, induction. These three methods are what
cause static electricity.
 ASSIGNMENT

• Page 281 Q’s – 1 – 7 and 10

• Page 284 Q’s – 1, 2, and 7