ELECTROSTATICS

This refers to the study of charge at rest. To understand the nature of charge, it is
necessary to know the structure of an atom.

Structure of an atom

The electrons are negatively charged while protons are positively charged. The two
types of charges however are of the same magnitude in a neutral atom.

In a neutral atom, the number of negative charges is equal to the number of positive
charges and the atom is said to be electrically neutral. Therefore, electrostatics is the
study of static electricity because the charges which constitute it are stationary.

ELECTRIFICATION

This is the process of producing electric charges which are either positive or negative.

Methods of producing Electric charges.

 By friction or rubbing (good for insulators and non conductors).

 By conduction/contact (good for conductors).
 By induction (conductors).

Electrification by friction

Two uncharged bodies (insulators) are rubbed together. Electrons are transferred from
the body to the other. The body which looses electrons becomes positively charged and
that which gains electrons becomes negatively charged.

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Acquire positive charge Acquire negative charge
Glass silk
Fur Ebonite (hard rubber)
Cellulose Ace tale Polythene
Explanation of charging by friction

When two bodies are rubbed together, work is done, transferred electrons from one body
to another. This results into two bodies acquiring opposite charges.

Law of Electro statics

 Like charges repel each other.

 Unlike charges attract each other.

Electrification by conduction

 Support the uncharged conductor on an insulated stand.

 Put a positively charged rod in contact with the conductor.
 Because of mutual repulsion between the positive charges in the rod, some of
them are converted or transferred to the conductor.
 When the conductor is removed from the rod, it is found to be positively charged.

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NB: The insulated stand prevents flow of charge away from the conductor. To charge
the conductor negatively, a negative rod is produced.

Electrification by induction

(a) Charging the body positively.

Procedure
 Put the conductor on an insulated stand as in (i)
 Bring a negatively charged rod near the conductor.
 The positive and negative charges separate as shown in (ii)
 Earth the conductor by momentarily touching it with a finger and electrons flow
from it to the earth as in (iii) in presence of the charged rod.
 Remove the charged rod, the conductor is found to be positively charged.
(b) Charging the body by induction negatively,

Procedure

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 Put the conductor on an insulated stand as in (i)
 Bring a positively charged rod near the conductor.
 The positive and negative charges separate as shown in (ii)
 Earth the conductor by momentarily touching it with a finger and electrons flow
from it to the earth as in (iii) in presence of the charged rod.
 Remove the charged rod, the conductor is found to be negatively charged.

Charging two bodies simultaneously of opposite charges.

 Support two uncharged bodies on an insulated stand as shown in (a)

 Bring a positively charged rod near the two bodies, positive and negative
charges separate as in (b).
 Separate (A) from (B) in presence of the inducing charge.
 Remove the inducing charge, (A) will be negatively charged and (B) will be
positively charged.

CONDUCTORS AND INSULATORS

A conductor is a material which allows charge to flow through it. It has loosely bound
electrons known as conduction electrons. The flow of these electrons constitutes
current flow e.g. all metals, graphite, acids, bases and salt solutions are conductors.

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 An insulator is a material which does not allow flow of charge through it. It has no
conduction electrons because its electrons are strongly bound by the nuclear
attractive forces e.g. rubber, dry wood, glass, plastic, sugar solutions etc.

The gold leaf electroscope

 It consists of a brass cap and brass plate connected by a brass rod.

 A gold leaf is fixed together with a brass plate with a brass.
 The brass plate, gold leaf and part of brass rod are put inside a metallic box
which is enclosed with glass windows.

CHARGING A GOLD LEAF ELECTROSCOPE BY INDUCTION.

(i) Charging it positively

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 Bring a negatively charged rod near the cap of the gold leaf electroscope.
 Positive charges are attracted to the cap and negative charges are repelled to the
plate and gold leaf.
 The leaf diverges due to repulsion of the same number of charges on the plates.
 Earth the gold leaf electroscope in presence of a negatively charged rod.
 Electrons on the plate and leaf flow to the earth.
 The leaf collapses.
 Remove the negatively charged rod, positive charges on the ca spread out to the
rod and leaf therefore the leaf diverges hence the gold leaf is positively charged.
(ii) Charging it negatively.

 Get an uncharged gold leaf of electroscope.

 Bring the positively charged rod near the gold leaf cap.
 Negative charges are attracted to the cap and positive charges are repelled to leaf
and glass plate.
 Earth the gold leaf electroscope in presence of a positively charged rod.
 Negative charges flow from the earth to neutralize positive charges on plate and
leaf.
 The leaf collapses.
 Remove the positively charged rod, negative charges on the cap spread out on the
leaf plate, therefore, the leaf diverges and a gold leaf therefore becomes
negatively charged.

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 Testing for presence of charge

Distribution of charge on a conductor.

(a) Hollow conductor

When the proof plane is placed on the outside surface of a charged hollow conductor,
charge is transferred to the uncharged G.L.E, the leaf diverges as shown in (a). This
proves that charge was present on the outside of the surface.

When the proof plane is placed on the inside of a charged conductor is transferred to the
uncharged G.L.E, the leaf does not diverge as in (b) therefore, charge resides on the
outside surface of the hollow charged conductor.

(b) Curved bodies

(c)

A curve with a big curvature has a small radius and a curve with small curvature has big
radius therefore, curvature is inversely proportional to radius. A straight line has no
curvature.

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Surface charged density is directly proportional to the curvature. Therefore a small
curvature has small charge density. Surface charge density is the ratio of charge to the
surface area.

(ii)Rectangular conductor

(iii) Spherical conductor

Action of points

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Charge concentrates at sharp points. This creates a very strong electrostatic field at
charged points which ionizes the surrounding air molecules producing positive and
negative ions. Ions which are of the same charge as that on the sharp points are
repelled away forming an electric wind which may blow a candle flame as shown in
the diagram below and ions of opposite charge are collected to the points

Therefore, a charged sharp point acts as;

(i) Spray off’ of its own charge in form of electric wind.

(ii) Collector of unlike charges. The spray off and collecting of charges by the
points is known as corona discharge (action of points.)

Application of action of points (corona discharge)

Used in a lightening conductor.

 Used in electrostatics generators.

 Electrostatic photocopying machines.
 Air crafts are discharged after landing before passengers are allowed. Air crafts
get electrified but charge remains on the outer surface.

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Lightening conductor

A lightening conductor is made up of a thick copper strip which is fixed to the ground
and on the walls of the tall building ending with several shaped spikes. It is used to
protect structures from damage once struck by high lightening.

How it works

 A moving cloud becomes negatively charged by friction.

 Once it approaches the lightening conductor, it induces opposite charge on the
conductor.
 A high charge density on a conductor ionizes the air molecules and sends a stream
of positively charged ions which neutralize some of the negative charges of the
cloud.
 The excess negatively charged ions are safely conducted to the earth through a
copper strip.

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Ice pail experiment

Electric fields

This is a region a round the charged body where electric forces are experienced.
Electric fields may be represented by field lines. Field lines are lines drawn in an
electric field such that their directions at any point give a direction of electric field at
that point. The direction of any field at any given point is the direction of the forces
on a small positive charge placed at that point.

Properties of electric field lines

 They begin and end on equal quantities of charge.

 They are in a state of tension which causes them to shorten.
 They repel one another side ways.

Field patterns

(a) Isolated charge

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(b) Unlike charges close together

(c) Like charges close together

A neutral point is a region where the resultant electric field is zero i.e. field lines
cancel each other and therefore no resultant electrostatic forces exist.

(d)Field between charged points and plates

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