Static Electricity

Static Electricity

• What is Electricity ?

• What is Static Electricity

?

• difference between them ?

 Static Electricity
• What is Electricity

Electricity is a form of energy. Electricity is the flow of electrons.

All matter is made up of atoms, and an atom has a center, called a
nucleus. The nucleus contains positively charged particles called
protons and uncharged particles called neutron

+
Atom + + Nucleus

– –
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• What is Static Electricity

Static electricity occurs when there is a build up of electric

charge on the surface of a material.
It is called static electricity because the charges don’t move.
The electricity we use everyday involves moving charges.

Static = Charge does not move or flow

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Two kinds of charges
• After being rubbed, a plastic ruler can attract paper scraps.

 Ruler carries electric charge.

 It exerts electric force on paper.

This charging method is called charging by friction.

The interaction between static electric charges is called electrostatics

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Where do charges come from?.

If electrons = protons ⇒ neutral

If electrons > protons ⇒ gaining electrons, negative charge
If electrons < protons ⇒ losing electrons, positive charge
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Where do charges come from?

When a balloon rubs a piece of wool...

– +
electrons are pulled from the
– + wool to the balloon.
–
– +
– The balloon has more electrons than
– + usual.
+ The balloon: – charged,
wool The wool: +charged
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Where do charges come from?

Rubbing materials does NOT create

electric charges.
It just transfers electrons from one
material to the other.
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Examples of static electricity:

 Rubbing a balloon on your hair

 Walking across carpet

 Clothes tumbling in dryer

What do these have in common?

Friction!!!!
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Combing transfers

electrons from the hair

to the comb by friction,

resulting in a negative

charge on the comb and

a positive charge on the

hair.
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Induced charge

• Charged and neutral objects (not touching) are attracted because

electrons move in the neutral object.

• Electrons move toward a +ve charged object and away from a –ve
charged one.

This is called “induced charge”

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Conduction

Conduction = direct transfer of charge

Example : walk across carpet and touch a doorknob shocking!

Electrons are stripped from the carpet and we gain a –ve charge

When you touch the doorknob, electrons jump onto it :

electrical discharge
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Rules of static electricity

 Objects with like (same) charges repel, but

objects with unlike charges attract.
 Charged objects attract neutral objects
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Does friction always create static charge?

 Different materials have different strength of attraction for

electrons

 If two objects of the same material are rubbed, no static charge

forms (equal number of electrons transfer each way)

 If two different objects are rubbed, they will have different

attraction to the electrons. The stronger one will take electrons
away from weaker one and static charges build up
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Uses of static electricity

 Dust removal (Pollution Control)

 Photocopy (Xerography)

 Car Painting
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Effect of Materials on Static Electricity
 Materials are listed below according how well they create static electricity
when rubbed with another material, as well as what charge the material
will possess.
Become positive in charge
Materials that gain a positive (+) electrical charge ( or tend to give up
electrons)

Dry human skin Greatest tendency to giving up electrons and

becoming highly positive (+) in charge
Leather

Glass The glass on your TV screen gets charged and

collects dust
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Effect of Materials on Static Electricity
Human hair "Flyaway hair" is a good example of having a moderate
positive (+) charge
Nylon
Wool
Lead A surprise that lead would collect as much static
electricity as cat fur
Cat fur
Silk
Aluminium Gives up some electrons
Paper
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Effect of Materials on Static Electricity

Neutral

There are very few materials that do not tend to readily attract or give up
electrons when brought in contact or rubbed with other materials.

Materials that are relatively neutral

Cotton Best for non-static clothes

Steel Not useful for static electricity

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Effect of Materials on Static Electricity

Become negative in charge

Materials that gain a negative (−) electrical charge

Wood Attracts some electrons, but is almost neutral

Nickel, Copper Copper brushes used in Wimshurst electrostatic generator

Gold, Platinum Attract electrons almost as much as polyester

Polyethylene Pull Scotch Tape off surface and it will become charged
(Scotch Tape)
Thank You