ELECTROSTATICS
is a branch of physics that deals with the study
of electric charges at rest.
STATIC ELECTRICITY
Was first observed by Thales of Miletus in as
early as 600 BC when he found out that an
amber when rubbed with fur acquired the
property of attracting tiny pieces of saw dust.
ELECTRIC CHARGES
are created by the transfer of electrons to or
from one body to another.
EARLY THEORIES ON CHARGES
ONE FLUID THEORY - proposed by
Benjamin Franklin, all bodies possess a
certain amount of electric fluid needed to keep
them uncharged. When two objects are rubbed
together, one of the bodies get some from the
other. The one who loses some of this fluid
becomes negatively charge and the one who
gains this fluid becomes positively charge.
TWO FLUID THEORY- Charles Du Fay, all
bodies contain equal amount of two kinds of
fluid. When rubbed together, one of these
fluids spread over one body making it
positively charge while the other fluid spreads
over the other body, making it negatively
charged.
DIELECTRIC THEORY - Maxwell and
Faraday considers charges as forms of strain in
the hypothetical ether surrounding a body. To
charge is to strain the ether and top discharge
it is to remove this strain.
THE ATOMIC STRUCTURE
Electron theory - modern theory of electric
charges which explains that the existence of
charges by the structure of an atom.
Atom - is the smallest constituent unit of
ordinary matter that is made up of a positively
charged nucleus surrounded by the negatively
charged electrons.
The number of protons and electrons are equal
hence the atom is neutral.
If the atom gains electron it becomes
negatively charged. If it loses electrons, it
become positively charged.
The SI unit of charge is Coulomb, abbreviated
as C.
Electron = -1.6 x 10-19 C.
Proton= 1.6 x 10-19 C.
The value of 1.6 x 10-19 C is designated by a
letter e.
Quantization of charge
no. of electrons = total charge divided by 1.6 x
10-19 C.
How many electrons must be removed from an
object for it have a charge of 1 C?
An object has an excess charge of
−1,92×10−17 C. How many excess electrons
does it have?
A comb rubbed with the hair several times
acquires a net charge of -0.96 C. How many
electrons were transferred?
How many electrons must be removed from a
neutral object to leave a charge of -0.500 x10 -
6 C?
CONSERVATION OF ELECTRIC CHARGES
When two different bodies are rubbed against
each other, the electrons are simply
transferred from one body to another.
One body requires a positive charge and the
other body acquires an equal negative charge.
Mathematically, the sum of the positive and
negative charge during the process of rubbing
is zero.
CONDUCTORS AND INSULATORS
Conductors- materials that allows charges to
flow readily.
Insulators- materials that resists the flow of Rubber
charges. Polyester
Styrofoam
Semi-conductors- intermediate between a Polyurethane
conductor and an insulator. It is an insulator in Polyvinylchloride(PVC)
its pure crystalline form. It paved way for the Teflon
development of miniaturized electronic devices
like transistor and integrated circuits (Si, Ge, Conduction
GaAs) is charging by contact between the neutral
body and the charging body.
Superconductor- a material that can conduct
electricity or transport electrons from one atom Induction
to another with no resistance below some It does not involve contact between the neutral
critical temperatures. (Niobium -9.2 K) body and the charging body.
The neutral body is just brought very near the
THE PROCESS OF CHARGING charging body.
It involves the addition or the removal of
electrons:
charging by friction
conduction
induction

CHARGING BY FRICTION
When two different materials are rubbed
together, which one will become positively
charged and one will become negatively
charge?
Scientist come up with the ranking of some
common materials based on their ability to
hold or give up electrons called
TRIBOELECTRIC SERIES.
When two different materials ar rubbed
together the one that is higher in the list will
become positively charged.

TRIBOELECTRIC SERIES
Dry hands
Leather
Glass
Human Hair
Nylon
Wool
Fur
Silk
Wood
Amber