Electrostatics

Electrostatics is the study of charges at rest. It is electricity that does

not move from one point to another in the substance in which it is
produced.

Types of Charges
1. Positive charge
A body becomes positively charged if it losses electron. This can be
obtained in the Laboratory if glass rod is rubbed with silk and there is a
net transfer of surface electrons from glass to the silk. The glass
becomes positively charged and the silk becomes negatively charged.

2. Negative charge
A body is negatively charged if it gains electron. This is obtained by
rubbing ebonite rod with fur and there is a transfer of electrons from the
atoms of fur to the ebonite rod. The fur becomes positively charged.

The positively charged protons deep in the nucleus are not free to be
transferred. Hence bodies do not become electrically charged by
transfer of protons. They become charged by transfer of electrons

The Law of Electrostatics : Like or similar charges repel each

other; unlike or opposite charges attract each other.

Gold leaf Electroscope

An electroscope is an instrument used for the detection and testing of
small electric charges.
It consists of a flat brass disc or cap, a brass rod with a gold leaf. The
metal case is made draught-proof and connected to the earth to prevent
accumulation of charges due to external influence.

Uses of the Gold Leaf Electroscope

1. To detect charges: If a charged body is placed on the cap

of a charged electroscope an increase in divergence or
collapse of the leaf shows the body is charged. If there is
no change in the divergence, it means the body is not
charged.
2. To determine the nature of charge on the body: If a charged
body is placed on a charged electroscope, increase in
divergence means the charge on the electroscope and the
body are the same. If there is collapse of the leaf, it means
they have opposite charge or the body is uncharged.
3. To determine the conducting properties of a body: If a good
conductor is placed on the cap of an electroscope, the leaf
collapses immediately. If it is a semi conductor, it
collapses gradually and if an insulator, there is no
alteration of the leaf

Ways of Producing Charges

1. Electrostatic Induction:
Electrostatic induction is the act of charging a neutral body by placing a
charged body near it without any contact between the two.
STEP 1: A negatively charged body is brought near the uncharged body,
free electrons from the metal sphere are repelled by the excess
electrons on the rod. They shift towards the right. They can not escape
from the sphere because the stand and the surrounding air are insulated.

STEP 2: These excess charges called induced charges are released to

the earth by touching the right part of the sphere with a wire and the
other part of the wire to the earth.

STEP 3: The wire is disconnected.

STEP 4: The negatively charged rod is removed. A net positive charge is

left on the rod.

2. Friction:
Charges can also be produced by friction. By rubbing as in ebonite and
fur, glass rod and silk, charges are transferred from one by either of the
two bodies involved. Equal and opposite charges are produced by
friction.
Effects of Charging by Friction

1. Passengers stepping out of cars and buses complain of a

slight electric shock as soon as their feet touch the ground.
This is because friction between the air and the body of the
fast moving car makes the body of the vehicle to be
charged.
2. A chain is often left hanging from the rear of a petrol tanker
to discharge the charges acquired on the body during
movement as this may cause a spark when inflammable
vapour is present.
3. Contact: This is done by bringing a charged body in
contact with an uncharged body. Charges are transferred
from the charged body to the uncharged body.

Charge Distribution in a Conductor

Charges are usually concentrated at places where the surface is sharply
curved.

NB: The charge density is highest at the sharpest point of the conductor.
Because of this high charge density, air molecule close to this point get
ionized ( i.e broken down into positive and negative ions). Those with
charge opposite to the conductor will be attracted to the conductor.
Those with charge opposite to that of the conductor will be repelled. As
these ions move, they collide with other molecules and knock off
electron from them thereby ionizing those molecules. This process could
continue leading to a geometrical increase in the number of ions around
the conductor.

For a hollow conductor, charges reside only on its outside surface, no

charges reside inside the conductor.
EVALUATION

1. What is electrostatic induction?

2. Explain the three methods of charging.

Lightning Conductors
Lightning conductors are used to prevent tall buildings from being
damaged when being struck by lightning. They are made from a copper
with a sharp point edge or spike at the top. It helps to conduct the
charges generated harmlessly to the earth. When electrical charges in
thunderclouds build up, attraction between unlike charges within a cloud
increases steadily until a heavy spark and sound is produced as the
charges approach one another. This spark is observed as lightning and
the sound is thunder. The heat generated can set a building or tree on
fire.

The charge on the cloud induces electrical charges on the lightening

conductor. This buildup at the sharp edge and cause ionization of air
molecule around it. Some of the charge avalanche result from the
ionization of air around the lightening conductor travels toward the cloud
and help to neutralize some of the charge on the cloud thereby reducing
the possibility of a lightening

Electrophorus
Electrophorus is used for storing and transferring electric charges. It consists
of a metal disc fitted with an insulating handle and another flat disc made of
insulating material such as ebonite