Science Form 2

CHAPTER 7
ELECTRICITY and MAGNETISM
• Many of the things we
use in our daily life is
powered by electricity.
• What actually is
electricity??
• Electricity is the flow of
electric current (or the
rate of flow of charge)
through a conductor.
7.1 ELECTROSTATICS
 Electrostatics
• Electrostatics is the study of static electrical
charges.
• Electrical charges are produced in material
through friction.
 Example of phenomena happens as a
result of electrical charges

• When a plastic pen is rubbed with

some wool, the pen will attract dust
and small pieces of paper.
• When you clean a mirror or glass
window with a dry cloth on a hot,
dry day, dust and fine threads will
stick to the mirror or glass.
• When you comb your hair with a
plastic comb, the plastic comb may
pull against your hair.
• When you remove your nylon or
terylene shirt on a dry day, you will
hear a crackling sound.
 Types of electrical charges and their properties
• All substances are made
up of atoms.
• An atom contains
a. protons that are positively
charged
b. neutrons that are neutral
(do not have charges)
c. electrons that are
negatively charged and
orbit around the nucleus
of an atom.
Types of electrical charges and their properties

• There are two types of electrical charges

a. positive charges and
b. negative charges
• A neutral material has the same number of
protons and electrons.
Types of electrical charges and their properties

• When two different materials are rubbed

together, electrons will be transferred from
one material to another.
a. The material that loses electrons will become
positively charged.
b. The material that receives electrons will become
negatively charged
• Rub the plastic rod with fur to negatively charge
the rod.
• Rub the glass rod with silk to positively charge
the rod.
 Electrostatic Force
• The effects of electrostatic
force:
a. Object with same type of
+
charges repel (push part) each
+
other.
b. Object with different type
of charges attract each other
• The strength of the
electrostatic force depends on
the quantity of charges that +
-
are present in the object.
Producing and detecting electrical charges
• Table below shows the type of electrical charges that
produced when two different materials are rubbed
against each other.

Negatively charged Positively charged

Polythene Wool
Wool Cellulose acetate
Ebonite Animal fur
Silk Glass
Amber Animal fur
 Electroscope
• An electroscope is a device that
is used to detect the static
electrical charges.
• An electroscope consists of a
metal (brass) cap and a gold
leaf.
• The gold leaf is attached to the
end of the metal rod.
• When a charged substance is
brought close to the brass cap,
the gold leaf repels from the
metal plate.
 Polythene strip
• Neutral polythene strip
➔ electroscope cap
(uncharged) ➔ remains
closed.
• Rubbed with woolen
cloth ➔ negatively
charged ➔ electroscope
cap ➔ gold leaf diverges.
• Charged polythene strip
➔ attract small paper &
attract water stream.
 Polythene strip & cellulose acetate
• Polythene strip rubbed
with woollen cloth ➔
negatively charged
polythene strip
• Cellulose acetate rubbed
with woollen cloth ➔
positively charged cellulose
acetate
• Polythene strip & cellulose
acetate brought together
➔ attract each other.
 Electroscope
• Negatively charged rod
induces positive charges on
the brass cap ➔ negatively
charges on the brass rod and
gold leaf ➔ mutual repulsion
of (-) charges ➔ gold leaf
DIVERGES…
• Positively charges ➔
………………
 Positively Charged Electroscopes
• A positively charged
plastic ruler is
brought closer to
metal cap. What will
happen to the gold
leaf in the
electroscope??
• The gold leaf
diverges more The + attract more – from gold leaf
to metal cap. More + charges left in
gold leaf ➔ diverges more
 Electrostatic charges are …
• Static (not moving) charges
➔ distributed at the surfaces
of an object (not inside the
object)
• Negative charges / electrons
➔ free to move
• Like charges repel & unlike
charges attract.
 Study electrostatic ~
Van de Graaff generator
• The Van de Graaff
generator is a highly
efficient electrostatic
generator.
• It produces electrical
charges which are
stored on the metal
dome.
 Natural phenomena related
to electrostatic
Lightning
• a. Lightning is an electric
discharge.
• b. During a thunderstorm,
electrical charges are
produced when air that
flows quickly rubs against
the rain clouds.
c. Negative charges build up at the
bottom of the cloud.
d. The top of the cloud becomes
positively charged.
e. The Earth's surface and the
buildings underneath the clouds
are positively charged.
f. Lightning occurs
i. when the electrons that
collect at the bottom of the cloud
move to the positively charged
areas of the cloud.
ii. when sparks jump between
clouds and the surface of the Earth.
Useful applications of electrostatics in
our everyday life
• Electrostatic precipitator –
prevents fly ash from being
discharged into the air.
• Electrostatic paint spraying –
to paint cars (-) and other
objects.
Photocopier
 Safety measures to overcome
electrostatics hazards
• Lightning can cause
damage to tall buildings.
• Lightning conductors are
installed on the buildings
to reduce the chances of
a lightning strike.
• Lightning conductor ==
copper strip or rod.
• One end consist several
metal spikes sticking up
into the air.
• One end is connected to
a metal plate buried in
the ground.
• Provide routes for
electric charges to pass
into the ground ➔
prevent lightning from
striking the building.
 Safety measures to overcome electrostatics hazards
PETROL TANKER

• Petroleum tankers may become

charged as a result of friction.
i. between the tankers and the
surrounding air on a dry day.
ii. between the exhaust gases and
the exhaust pipe.
• These charges can heat up the
tanker and result in an explosion.
• An iron chain is usually hung from
the tanker to enable the electrical
charges to flow to the ground
 Safety measures to overcome electrostatics hazards
AEROPLANE

• Aeroplanes become charged as they

fly in the air. The body of the
aeroplane comes in contact with the
hot, dry air.
• The tyres of aeroplanes are made of
carbon and this enables the charges to
flow to the ground during landing.
• Aeroplanes are also fitted with strips
of metal conductor to enable charges
to flow to the ground during landing.
 Checkpoint 7.1
1. What is electrostatic??
2. State the types of static electrical charges.
3. What are the properties of static electrical
charges??
4. Explain briefly how static electrical charges
can be produced in some materials.
5. Explain briefly how you can detect static
electrical charges.
1. What is electrostatic??
A study of static electricity.
2. State the types of static electrical charges.
Positive & negative charges
3. What are the properties of static electrical
charges??
It can attract uncharged particles.
Like charges repel & unlike charges attract
4. Explain briefly how static electrical charges
can be produced in some materials.
By rubbing the materials with soft woollen cloth/
silk. Polythene rubbed with woollen cloth ➔
negatively charged.
5. Explain briefly how you can detect static
electrical charges.
Detect by electroscope.
Any charged material brought near the cap of
uncharged electroscope ➔ gold leaf diverge.
• The build-up of static electrical charges can be
dangerous.
• Give one example of this.
• Describe how the problem can be overcome.

• Lightning
• Lightning conductors on tall buildings to make
lightning strikes less likely.