Electric charge Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is an electrical conductor?
A material through which electric current flows easily.
What is an electrical insulator?
A material that has a very high resistance to the flow of electric current.
List some common electrical conductors.
- Copper
- Steel
- Mercury
- Graphite
List some common electrical insulators.
- Rubber
- Paper
- Plastic
- Diamond
What types of electric charge exist?
Positive and negative.
Which particle in an atom has a negative charge?
Electron.
What is the charge of a neutron?
No electric charge.
What happens when an atom has equal numbers of electrons and protons?
The atom is uncharged.
Define static electricity.
Electric charges that remain stationary.
Define electric current.
Electric charges moving from one place to another.
How can insulating materials become charged?
By rubbing against each other.
What happens when one insulating material gains electrons?
It becomes negatively charged.
What happens to the material that loses electrons?
It becomes equally positively charged.
What is the law of charges?
LIKE CHARGES REPEL, UNLIKE ATTRACT.
True or False: Two bodies with different types of charge repel each other.
False.
Fill in the blank: Static electricity occurs when electric ________ remains ____________ on an object.
[charge], [stationary]
What is a potential hazard of static electricity?
A spark can cause a fire or an explosion.
What incident was thought to have been caused by a spark from static electricity?
The Buncefield oil depot explosion in December 2005.
How can static charge build up in fuel pipes?
When oil or petrol is pumped along pipes.
What is the purpose of antistatic floors in operating theatres?
To prevent doctors from becoming statically charged.
How does paint spraying utilize static electricity?
The spray nozzle is connected to the positive terminal, and the paint droplets repel each other and attract to a negatively charged surface.
How does an ink-jet printer use static electricity?
Spots of ink are given an electric charge to control their placement on paper.
What is the function of an electrostatic precipitator?
To prevent dust and ash from entering the atmosphere.
What happens to ash and dust in an electrostatic precipitator?
They become charged and are attracted to oppositely charged plates.
