STATIC

ELECTRICIT
Y
An object can store electric charges that
cannot flow. These charges are called
STATIC CHARGES .
 Where do these charges come from?

All the materials made up of tiny particles called ATOM.

An atom contains electrons, protons and neutrons

Electrons orbit the nucleus
Protons and neutrons are collectively known as nucleons
Neutrons have no charge, electrons are negatively charged and protons are
positively charged.

Since an atom is neutral the number of protons is equal to the number of electrons.
So there are two types of charges
That are positive (+)(proton) and negative (−)
(electron) charges.
Charges are measured in units called COULOMBS (C).

CHARGING BY FRICITON
Rub a plastic ruler with a piece of cloth and then hold it
near some tiny pieces of paper. The rubbed plastic ruler
attracts the piece of paper.
Rub a balloon with a piece of cloth and then hold it
near (but not touching) a thin stream of water from
tap. The rubbed balloon attracts the stream of
running water.

Because of friction with piece of cloth,

The plastic objects have been CHARGED
with STATIC ELECTRICITY.
When a cloth rubbed with a Perspex rod it becomes positively
charged as shown below.
Before rubbing
After rubbing

The perspex rod becomes positively charged and the

cloth becomes negatively charged, that is because from
the rod electrons transferred into cloth. So there are net
positive charge in rod and net negative charge in cloth.
When a cloth rubbed with polythene rod it becomes negatively
charged as shown below.

Before rubbing
After rubbing

The polythene rod becomes negatively charged and the

cloth becomes positively charged, that is because from
the cloth electrons transferred into rod. So net negative
charge in rod and net positive charge in cloth.

So the charging of solid object involved transfer

of electrons from object to another.
CHARGING BY INDUCTION
When positively charged rod is brought near to an
uncharged conducting sphere. The electrons in the sphere
pulls towards the rod, which leaves the other side of the
sphere with net negative charge. This is called charging by
induction.

Reverse happens when negatively charged rod is brought

near to an uncharged conducting sphere. The electrons in
the sphere repels on the other side of the sphere, so the net
positive charge left near to the rod.
A negatively charged polythene rod is suspended by using
thread. When positively charged perspex rod is brought
suspended polythene rod. Polythene rod moves towards perspex
rod.

This means unlike charges attract.

A negatively charged polythene rod is suspended by using
thread. When another negatively charged polythene rod is
brought suspended polythene rod. Both polythene rod moves
away from each other.

This means like charges repel.

ELECTRIC FIELD
Electric field is a region in which an electric charge
experiences a force.
We can show electric fields by lines with arrows
(called ELECTRIC FIELD LINES).

Electric field lines due to single charge

Electric field lines between like charges

Electric field lines between unlike charges

Conductors
Conductors are materials that allow electric charges to flow
through them easily.
They have large number of free electrons that can move easily
from atom to atom
e.g. metals ( e.g. copper, aluminium, steel, iron) etc..

Insulators
Insulators are materials that do not allow electric charges to
flow through them easily.
The electrons are tightly bound to the atoms and they are not
free to move.
e.g. plastic, rubber, wood, glass etc..
DANGERS OF STATIC ELECTRICITY
Lightning
In a thunderstorm, the clouds are charged by friction with air
current. When charged cloud comes above the buildings,
trees and ground, the buildings trees and ground induces
opposite charge as in cloud. So the large potential difference
between cloud and Earth is produced, as a result electrons
moves through the air and collide with air molecules in the
air and cause them to give out lightning flash. It can burn
forests, damage houses and kill peoples.
Refueling
When the oil tanks are refueling, the oil and refueling pipe
may charge up because of the friction. So the charges build
up may collide with each other and spark produce, which
leads to catch the fire in the oil tank. So to stop building up
the charge, the oil tank must be earthed.
Lightning conductor
Tall buildings usually have a strip of copper called a lightning
conductor attached at the top of the building and connected
to the Earth. This lightning conductor catches the unwanted
electrons flow through the air due to charged cloud and
provides route for electrons to pass into the ground without
damaging the building.
Earthing
Connecting a conductor to the charged object to remove unwanted
charges.
USES OF STATIC ELECTRICITY
Electrostatic precipitator
When dust and ash particles move upward, the dust and
ash becomes negatively charged by coming into contact
with wires. Since unlike charges attract, the dust and
ash move and stick to the positively charged plate. The
dust and ash is now remove from the hot gases and hot
gases released into air.
Photocopy machine
Electrostatic spraying
Bicycles and cars always painted by using electrostatic spraying.
The paint is given a charge and this makes better spray. The
droplets all have the same charge and repel each other so that the
paint spreads out to form a large even cloud.
The charged droplets are all attracted to the object and stick
strongly to the surface because it has an opposite charge. Hence
less paint is needed and less paint is wasted.