PHYSICS NOTES

Static electricity is a stationary electric charge that is caused by an imbalance of

charges on or within an object. This charge remains in an object until it can move
via an electric current or electrical discharge. Without a method of movement, the
charge will stay stationary, hence it is called static electricity.
Static electricity can be created by rubbing two insulators. The friction generated
causes electrons to be transferred between the objects. One object loses
electrons, becoming positively charged while the other gains electrons,
becoming negatively charged.

There are two ways of transferring charge:

1. Charging by friction/contact (Conduction)
2. Charging by induction

Charging By Friction/contact
1. Two neutral (no charge) objects are rubbed against each other, creating
friction. This causes electrons to transfer from one object, making it positively
charged, to the other, making it negatively charged. Objects of the same material
cannot produce electric charge by friction.
2. When an object that is already electrically charged comes in contact with a
neutral object, electrons are transferred from the charged object to the neutral
object until the charge is balanced in each, resulting in two objects with the same
charge.

Charging By Induction
Induction (indirect charging) is a method of charging where a charged object is
brought close towards a neutral object without being in contact. The presence of
the charged object causes a polarization charge in the neutral object, where a
positive and negative charge is separated. Opposite charge moves toward the
charged object and like charges move away.
Once the charged object moves away, the polarization charge is removed and the
object stays neutral. To keep the neutral object permanently charged, a
conducting wire that moves away from the charge object allows the like charge to
leave the neutral object, which in turn makes the object charged. The newly
charged object now has an opposite charge to the first charged object.

Electrical fields
An electric field is a physical field that surrounds all charged particles. An
attracting or repelling force is exerted on charged particles within this field.
Opposite charges attract and Like charges repel.

Application of Electrostatics
1. The discharge of static electricity near electric devices can cause memory
corruption and temporary failure
2. Electrostatics uses electronic devices like printers and photocopiers to allow
them to perform their functions.
3. Electrostatic precipitators remove the smoke from waste gasses before they
pass out of the chimneys in power stations that burn fossil fuels.