STATIC Electricity

Electrons
Electrons are the smallest and lightest of the particles in an atom. Electrons are in constant motion as they circle around the nucleus of that atom. Electrons are said to have a negative charge, which means that they seem to be surrounded by a kind of invisible force field. This is called an electrostatic field.

CHARGED BODY
A body with an excess of electrons is said to be negatively charged. (-) A body with a deficiency of electrons is said to be positively charged. (+)

A body with no excess electrons is said to be neutral (that is, no charge)

Electric Charges
Opposite

charges attract Like charges repel

Static Electricity
Just what is static electricity?
Excess or deficiency of Electrons

Static means not in motion

Creates an electrical potential and an electrostatic field e.g. clouds in thunderstorm

Electric Field Lines

The

amount of electric field lines is proportional to the electric field strength (charge). The electric field is stronger when there are more lines.

NOTE:

field lines do not exist, but are an artifact to explain the field that does exist.

Which bodies have the smaller charge? WHY?

Insulators

do not allow electric charges to move freely Examples include rubber, plastic, dry air, and glass.
Insulator Few free Electrons Conductor Many free Electrons

Conductors

allow electric charges to move freely Examples include copper, aluminum, and gold. Silver is best!

Static Electricity Demo

Balloons; Plastic strips; foam balls; aluminum foil balls; Comb hair to pick up pieces of paper, pepper, etc.
Leyden Jar Electroscope Van De Graff Generator

Electrons in Motion = Current Flow

Electrons flow from negative to positive Conventional current flow is from positive to negative Current flow is measured in amperes (amps) The higher the current flow, the higher the current

Electrical potential is measured in volts

The higher the potential (charge), the higher the voltage

Our electrical grid operates at very high voltage and currents

The flow of electrons also creates an electromagnetic field

Voltage Sources: Static & DC/AC

Static generated: carpets; seat covers in car; thunderstorm clouds; frictional motion between two nonconductors/insulators; others??? Up to millions of volts in a thunderstorm

DC = Direct Current
Dry-Cell batteries Flashlight batteries Alkaline batteries

AC = Alternating Current
Household electrical circuits Electric utilities Electric generators High voltage transmission up to 500,000 volts

1.5 v

Rechargeable batteries NiCad (nickel-cadmium) batteries Lead-Acid automobile batteries or "wet-cell" batteries 2.0 v Solar cells Fuel cells

Typical service neighborhood power line 7,00025,000 v

Home service to house typically single or three phase 240/120 v

Couloumbs Law
The

closer two charges are, the greater the force on them. Electric Force = Coulomb constant x ((charge 1 x charge 2) / distance2) Felectric = kC x ((c1 x c2)/d2) kC = 8.99 x 109 N m2/C2 Charge = Couloumb (C) Units F = Newtons d = Meters