Static Electricity

Question 1

What is an electroscope?

Answer 1

A tool that can be used to detect the presence of electric charge (pith ball, metal leaf)

Question 2

What is a proton?

Answer 2

A positively charged subatomic particle

Question 3

What is an electron?

Answer 3

A negatively charged subatomic particle

Question 4

What is a neutron?

Answer 4

A neutral subatomic particle

Question 5

What is friction?

Answer 5

Rubbing two objects together to create a charge

Question 6

What is conduction?

Answer 6

When a charged object makes contact with a neutral object, causing the transfer of electrons

Question 7

What is induction?

Answer 7

Charging a neutral object with a charged object by bringing the charged object close to it without any contact

Question 8

How do you read the electrostatic series?

Answer 8

The objects that are higher on the electrostatic series will become positive because their grasp on electrons is weaker. The objects that are lower on the electrostatic series will become negative because they have a stronger grasp on electrons.

Question 9

Can you determine the final charge on objects charged by conduction?

Answer 9

Yes, objects charged by conduction will end up with the exact same charge and number of electrons

Question 10

Can you determine the final charge on objects charged by induction?

Answer 10

Yes, if it was temporary induction the objects charges will remain the same. If it was permanent induction the previously neutral object will become the opposite charge of the charged object.

Question 11

What are the three laws of electric charges?

Answer 11

• opposite charges attract
• like charges repel
• charged objects attract neutral objects

Question 12

What is the electric force?

Answer 12

The force of attraction or repulsion that is exerted by an object with a charge

Question 13

What is grounding?

Answer 13

Removing excess electrons from an object by connecting it to the earth to make it neutral

Question 14

What is induced charge separation?

Answer 14

A shift in the position of electrons in a neutral object that occurs when a charged object is brought near it

Question 15

How do you know if an object is neutral?

Answer 15

If it has an equal amount of protons and electrons

Question 16

How do you know if an object is positive?

Answer 16

If it has more protons than electrons

Question 17

How do you know if an object is negative?

Answer 17

If it has more electrons than protons

Question 18

What are the three types of charges?

Answer 18

Positive, negative, and neutral

Question 19

Out of the three subatomic particles which one can be transferred between objects?

Answer 19

Protons and neutrons do not move because they are held in place by strong forces of attraction. Electrons, however, can move. They can be added to or removed from an atom, this determines the type of charge

Question 20

What is the electrostatic series?

Answer 20

It’s a list used to determine the charge on an object after friction

Question 21

What is a conductor?

Answer 21

A material that allows electrons to move easily through it (copper, aluminium, tap water)

Question 22

What is an insulator?

Answer 22

A material that DOES NOT allow electrons to move easily through it (plastic, wood, rubber, pure H2O)

Question 23

What is electric discharge?

Answer 23

The rapid transfer of electrons that occurs when two objects have an imbalance of electric charge (John Travoltage)

Question 24

How do electrons move when charging by friction?

Answer 24

When two objects are rubbed together the electrons transfer to the object that is lower on the electrostatic series

Question 25

How do electrons move when charging by conduction?

Answer 25

The electrons move to the object with fewer electrons to balance out the charges

Question 26

How do electrons move when charging by induction?

Answer 26

The electrons attract the opposite charge and repel the like charge

Question 27

What is a temporary charge?

Answer 27

Temporarily charging an object means once you take away the object you're charging with the other object goes back to being neutral

Question 28

What is a permanent charge?

Answer 28

Permanently charging an object means you charge an object while grounding, and continue charging it after grounding which causes the object to gain the opposite charge of the object you charged it with

Question 29

What are five applications of static electricity?

Answer 29

Electrostatic dusters, electrostatic precipitators, electrostatic spray painter, laser printers, dryer softener sheet

Question 30

Explain how electrostatic dusters work.

Answer 30

- Uses friction to attract dust | - Sweeping causes a buildup of charge

Question 31

Explain how electrostatic precipitators work.

Answer 31

- Uses properties of electrostatic charge to remove particles from the air

Question 32

Explain how electrostatic spray painters work.

Answer 32

As the paint leaves the nozzle it becomes charged. The surface painted has the opposite charge so the paint gets attracted to the charged surface

Question 33

Explain how laser printers work.

Answer 33

- Works with a photoconductor which only conducts when light is shined

Question 34

Explain how dryer softener sheets work.

Answer 34

- When fabric rubs together negative charges are created | - When the positive dryer sheet comes into contact with the clothes they get neutralized

Question 35

What are the dangers of lightning?

Answer 35

Can strike you, which can cause death

Question 36

What activities should you not do during a lightning storm?

Answer 36

Swimming, playing golf, playing soccer in an open field, flying a kite, climbing a tree

Question 37

What should you do during a lightning storm?

Answer 37

stay inside if possible, if you're outside lay on the ground, don't stand under a tree, get into your car if possible

Question 38

How does lightning form?

Answer 38

Lightning is a natural electric discharge between the atmosphere and Earth. It's caused by the continuous build-up of electrons in clouds. Large amounts of these negative charges concentrate near the bottom of the cloud. When the negative charge at the base of the cloud moves over tall objects, such as skyscrapers, it's sometimes close enough to return to the ground in a huge spark we call lightning.

Question 39

How does a Van de Graaff generator work?

Answer 39

A hollow metal sphere, resting on a cylinder made from an insulating material. Friction between the belt and pulleys either transfers electrons onto the belt or removes them. Electrons build-up on the sphere, and soon there's too many charges and the sphere can no longer hold onto them so the charges "leak" onto nearby air molecules.

Question 40

Why do we use lightning rods?

Answer 40

Lightning rods are put on top of buildings and are threaded down so they provide the shortest path to the ground. Made up of the best conductors.