Static electricity

Question 1

What is static electricity?

Answer 1

• The build up of charge on an insulating material which is disharged via a spark

Question 2

How does static electricity build up on an object?

Answer 2

• When two objets are rubbed together, the friction between them causes electrons to be rubbed off 1 object and onto the other
• In a conducting material, the electrons will jump right back however, in insulating materials (which can’t conduct electricity), the electrons can’t go back and chage is built up

Question 3

How does a spark occur due to static electricity?

Answer 3

• As the charge on an object builds, a potential difference is set up between it and the earth (or any earthed object)
• If this potential difference gets big enough, the electrons will jump across the gap, resulting in a spark