Static Electricity

Static Electricity
Static Electricity
• What is Electricity ?
• What is Static Electricity

?
• difference between them ?

Static Electricity
• What is Electricity
Electricity is a form of energy. Electricity is the flow of electrons.

All matter is made up of atoms, and an atom has a center, called a
nucleus. The nucleus contains positively charged particles called
protons and uncharged particles called neutron
+
Atom + + Nucleus
– –
Static Electricity
• What is Static Electricity
Static electricity occurs when there is a build up of electric

charge on the surface of a material.
It is called static electricity because the charges don’t move.
The electricity we use everyday involves moving charges.
Static = Charge does not move or flow

Static Electricity
Two kinds of charges
• After being rubbed, a plastic ruler can attract paper scraps.
 Ruler carries electric charge.
 It exerts electric force on paper.
This charging method is called charging by friction.
The interaction between static electric charges is called electrostatics

Static Electricity
Where do charges come from?.
If electrons = protons ⇒ neutral

If electrons > protons ⇒ gaining electrons, negative charge
If electrons < protons ⇒ losing electrons, positive charge
Static Electricity
Where do charges come from?
When a balloon rubs a piece of wool...
– +
electrons are pulled from the
– + wool to the balloon.
–
– +
– The balloon has more electrons than
– + usual.
+ The balloon: – charged,
wool The wool: +charged
Static Electricity
Where do charges come from?
Rubbing materials does NOT create

electric charges.
It just transfers electrons from one
material to the other.
Static Electricity
Examples of static electricity:
 Rubbing a balloon on your hair
 Walking across carpet
 Clothes tumbling in dryer
What do these have in common?
Friction!!!!
Static Electricity
Combing transfers
electrons from the hair
to the comb by friction,
resulting in a negative
charge on the comb and
a positive charge on the
hair.
Static Electricity
Induced charge
• Charged and neutral objects (not touching) are attracted because

electrons move in the neutral object.
• Electrons move toward a +ve charged object and away from a –ve
charged one.
This is called “induced charge”

Static Electricity
Conduction
Conduction = direct transfer of charge

Example : walk across carpet and touch a doorknob shocking!
Electrons are stripped from the carpet and we gain a –ve charge
When you touch the doorknob, electrons jump onto it :

electrical discharge
Static Electricity
Rules of static electricity
 Objects with like (same) charges repel, but

objects with unlike charges attract.
 Charged objects attract neutral objects
Static Electricity
Does friction always create static charge?
 Different materials have different strength of attraction for

electrons
 If two objects of the same material are rubbed, no static charge

forms (equal number of electrons transfer each way)
 If two different objects are rubbed, they will have different

attraction to the electrons. The stronger one will take electrons
away from weaker one and static charges build up
Static Electricity
Uses of static electricity
 Dust removal (Pollution Control)
 Photocopy (Xerography)
 Car Painting
Static Electricity
Effect of Materials on Static Electricity
 Materials are listed below according how well they create static electricity
when rubbed with another material, as well as what charge the material
will possess.
Become positive in charge
Materials that gain a positive (+) electrical charge ( or tend to give up
electrons)
Dry human skin Greatest tendency to giving up electrons and

becoming highly positive (+) in charge
Leather
Glass The glass on your TV screen gets charged and

collects dust
Static Electricity
Human hair "Flyaway hair" is a good example of having a moderate
positive (+) charge
Nylon
Wool
Lead A surprise that lead would collect as much static
electricity as cat fur
Cat fur
Silk
Aluminium Gives up some electrons
Paper
Static Electricity
Neutral
There are very few materials that do not tend to readily attract or give up
electrons when brought in contact or rubbed with other materials.
Materials that are relatively neutral

Cotton Best for non-static clothes
Steel Not useful for static electricity

Static Electricity
Become negative in charge

Materials that gain a negative (−) electrical charge
Wood Attracts some electrons, but is almost neutral
Nickel, Copper Copper brushes used in Wimshurst electrostatic generator
Gold, Platinum Attract electrons almost as much as polyester
Polyethylene Pull Scotch Tape off surface and it will become charged
(Scotch Tape)
Thank You

Static Electricity

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Static Electricity

• What is Static Electricity

• difference between them ?

Electricity is a form of energy. Electricity is the flow of electrons.

Static electricity occurs when there is a build up of electric

Static = Charge does not move or flow

 Ruler carries electric charge.

 It exerts electric force on paper.

This charging method is called charging by friction.

The interaction between static electric charges is called electrostatics

Where do charges come from?.

If electrons = protons ⇒ neutral

When a balloon rubs a piece of wool...

Rubbing materials does NOT create

 Rubbing a balloon on your hair

 Walking across carpet

 Clothes tumbling in dryer

What do these have in common?

electrons from the hair

to the comb by friction,

charge on the comb and

a positive charge on the

• Charged and neutral objects (not touching) are attracted because

This is called “induced charge”

Conduction = direct transfer of charge

When you touch the doorknob, electrons jump onto it :

 Objects with like (same) charges repel, but

 Different materials have different strength of attraction for

 If two objects of the same material are rubbed, no static charge

 If two different objects are rubbed, they will have different

Uses of static electricity

 Dust removal (Pollution Control)

Dry human skin Greatest tendency to giving up electrons and

Glass The glass on your TV screen gets charged and

Materials that are relatively neutral

Steel Not useful for static electricity

Effect of Materials on Static Electricity

Become negative in charge

Wood Attracts some electrons, but is almost neutral

Nickel, Copper Copper brushes used in Wimshurst electrostatic generator

Gold, Platinum Attract electrons almost as much as polyester

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