Cruise School, Addis Ababa

Science I Handout for Grade 6

Unit 6

Atomic model electrostatic

Electrostatic is the study of electric charges at rest.

Atomic model

- An atom and it’s structure can be explained using atomic model.

- Atomic model is a representation of an atom by which we describe the general
characteristics of an atom.
- There are different types of atomic model developed by different scientist at different times
in the history of science.
- The one atomic model developed was by E-Rutherford. According to Rutherford;
 Its model resembles with the planetary system.
 An atom have two parts namely the central parts called the nucleus and the electron
shell.
 An atom consists of three sub atomic particle there are
−
e
i. electron
ii. proton p+
o
iii. neutron n
 The proton and neutron are found inside the nucleus, while the electrons are found
outside the nucleus whirling at a very high speed around it.
The path through which electron whirl around the nucleus is known as an orbit or a
shell.

 The atomic particles have different charges.

−
e
- Electrons have a negative charge.
- Protons have positive charge. p+
o
- Neutron have no charge (zero charge). n

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 Sub atomic particle Symbol Charge
electron −
e -ve

proton P +ve
neutron N 0 charge
 A neutral atom has equal amount of electrons and protons.
 In other words the number of negative and positive charge is equal amount in neutral atom.

Charging Bodies
 When a neutral body gains electrons from another body it becomes a negative charged
 A neutral body loses electrons it becomes positively charged.
 Rubbing of two bodies cause a transfer of electrons from one body to the other

Effects observed when two charged bodies are brought or closer each
other.
 Two like charges are repeal each other.
 Two un like charge are attract each other

Charge of a body Charge of a body Effects when they

Body (A) (Body B) come close each
other
Positive Positive Repulsion
Positive Negative Attraction
Negative Negative Repulsion
Neutral Neutral No effect
An electroscope
An electroscope is an instrument used to detect the presence and types of charge on a
body.

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 Charging an electroscope
- An electroscope can be charged either by conducting or induction.
Conduction: by touching the cap with a charged body
Induction: by holding a charged body closer to the cap
An electroscope can be charged positively or negatively
 Suppose a positively charged body is brought near an electroscope by induction
(without touching) the disk will be negative charge while the leaf of the electroscope
becomes positively charged.
 Hence the leaves having like charge will repel each other and fly apart;
 If an electroscope is touched by a negative charged body the leaves of the electroscope
will be charged negatively.
Defecting the charge of a body
- A charged electroscope can used to detect the charge of a body.
- We can use either a positively or negatively charged electroscope for this purpose.
Conductors and insulations
 Conductors: are substance through which electricity (electrons) can flow
e.g. Metal such as Copper, Iron, Gold e.t.c
Metal are good conductors because ion (electrons) can moves freely from one part to
another within the metal.
 Insulators: are substance that do not allow the flow of electricity
e.g. Substances such as sulphur, Glass, Rubber, plastic e.t.c.
Nonmetals are good insulator because electrons are held firmly to their atom.

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