Introduction

What is Electricity?

-The flow of electrons through simple materials and devices.

-The force which moves electron.

Atom

-Is smallest particles to which an element can be reduced while still keeping the
properties of that element.

-Consist of positive charged nucleus surrounded by negative charge electrons.

-Atom as a whole is electrically neutral.

-The nucleus is composed of two kinds of sub-atomic particles.

 Proton
Carries a single unit positive charge equal in magnitude to electron charge.
 Neutrons
Is slightly heavier than the proton and is electrically neutral.

-The two particles exist in various combinations depending upon the elements
involved.

-The electron is the fundamental negative charged of electricity and revolves

around the nucleus or center of the atom in concentric orbits.

Figure 1: The Atom

-The proton is the fundamental charge of electricity and it is located in the nucleus.
-The number of protons in nucleus of any atom specifies the atomic number of
that element

The nucleus contains 6 protons,6 neutrons,6 electrons orbit the nucleus.

Figure 2: The Carbon Atom

Electrostatic Force

-Electron and nucleus attracts each other

Figure 3: The Electrostatic Force

First Law of Electrostatics (Law of electrical charges)
-Negative charge of the electron is equal, but opposite to, the positive charge of
the proton.
-“Unlike charges (like electrons and protons) attract each other, and like charges
repel each other”
-It is possible to transfer electrons from one object to another.
-Free electrons - electrons that can move around within an object. The greater the
number of these free electrons an object contains, the greater its negative electric
charge.

Electrostatic Field
-A special force is acting between the charge objects.
-Exists around each charge particle or object.

Figure 4: Electrostatic Field

-Unlike charges attract

Figure 5: Electrostatic Static

Field Two Charges Between
Opposite Polarity

-Like Charges repel

Figure 6: Electrostatic Static

Field Two Charges of Like
Polarity
-The strength of attraction or the repulsion force depends upon two factors.

1. The amount of charge on each object.

2. The distance between object.
-The greater the charge on the object, the greater the electrostatic field.

Coulomb’s Law of Electrostatic Charge

q1−q2
F= 2
d
where:
 F = force of electrostatic attraction or repulsion (Newtons)
 K = constant of proportionality (Coulomb2 /N-m2)
 q1 = charge of first particle (Coulomb)
 q2 = charge of second particle (Coulomb)
 d= distance between two particles (Meters)

Potential Difference

 Symbol: V (" indicating the ability to do the work of forcing electrons to

move.)
 Called voltage
 Term used to describe how large the electrostatic force is between two
charged objects.
 If a charged body is placed between two objects with a potential
difference, the charged body will try to move in one direction, depending
upon the polarity of the object.
 if one charge is different from another, there is a potential difference
between them
Potential - ability to do work
Electromotive force (EMF) - sum of the potential differences of all
charged particles in the electrostatic field
Volt - basic unit of measure of potential difference