What is Static Electricity?

Rubbing a polythene strip on wool causes some of the outer electrons in the wool to move over to
the polythene strip. As the polythene gains electrons it becomes negatively charged. The wool
looses electrons and is left with a net positive charge (more protons to electrons).

Static electricity is caused by the transfer of charge.

Atoms are made up of protons, neutrons and electrons each with their own properties.

Protons have a Positive (+) charge.

Electrons have a Negative (-) charge.
Neutrons are Neutral (no charge).
The positive charges (protons) are held in the nucleus of the atom.
The negative charges (electrons) are spread in orbits around the nucleus.

The protons and neutrons are held very tightly in the nucleus. But some of the electrons are held
very loosely and can move from one atom to another. If an atom looses an electron the number of
protons (positive charges) exceeds the number of electrons (negative charges) and the atom is
positively charged.

If an atom gains an electron the number of protons (positive charges) is lesser than the number of
electrons (negative charges) and the atom is negatively charged.

One method in which electrons can be moved or transferred is by rubbing two insulators together.
Rubbing causes friction between the two surfaces increasing the surface contact and allowing more
electrons to be transferred. The object which looses electrons becomes positively charged and the
one that gains the electrons becomes negatively charged.

Therefore,

Static Electricity is the imbalance of Positive and Negative Charge

Attraction & Repulsion

Rubbing a polythene strip on wool causes some of the outer electrons in the wool to move over to
the polythene strip. As the polythene gains electrons it becomes negatively charged. The wool
looses electrons and is left with a net positive charge (more protons to electrons).
Only the negative electrons move. The positive protons remained fixed in the atoms nucleus.

Rubbing materials to generate charge only works for insulated objects. Conductors direct the charge
flow to earth.

When two electrically charged bodies are brought together they exert a force on each other.
Electrically charged objects may attract or repel each other or attract small uncharged objects place
near them.

Opposite charges attract. Like charges Repel.

Example
Balloon
A balloon can be made to stick to a wall by using the principles of electrostatics.

When a balloon is rubbed against clothes the negative electrons from the clothes get transferred to
the balloon making the balloon negatively charged. When the balloon is placed near a wall or ceiling
(a neutral object) it stays there and doesn’t fall. This is because the negative charge of the balloon
repels some of the electrons in the wall or ceiling away from the surface. This results in an overall
positively charged surface causing the negatively charged balloon to be attracted (remember
opposite charges attract).

The separated charges in the wall or ceiling are called INDUCED charges.

http://passmyexams.co.uk/GCSE/physics/attraction-and-repulsion-of-charged-bodies.html