GENERAL PHYSICS 2

Electrostatics
 LEARNING TOPICS AND OBJECTIVES
Target Topics: Learning Objectives:
I. Electrostatics 1. Describe charging by rubbing and charging by
1. Electric Charge induction
2. Insulators and Conductors 2. Explain the role of electron transfer in electrostatic
a. Electrical Conductivity based on an charging by rubbing
element’s valence electron 3. State that there are positive and negative charges,
3. Processes of Charging and that charge is measured in coulombs
a. Friction 4. Predict charge distributions, and the resulting
b. Conduction attraction or repulsion, in a system of charged
c. Induction insulators and conductors
4. Conservation of Charge
GENERAL PHYSICS 2

What is Electrostatics?
GENERAL PHYSICS 2
 Electrostatics
What is it?
1.Electrostatics is the study of forces between charges, as described
by Coulomb's Law. (Khan Academy)
2.Electrostatics is the science of static or stationary electricity
(Department of Education, State of Victoria)
3.The study of all phenomena associated with electric charges at rest.
GENERAL PHYSICS 2

Structure of the Atom

Proton – Positively charged (+ e)
Neutron – No charge
Electron – Negatively Charged (- e)
Which particle/s are found inside the
nucleus?
- Proton and Neutron

Which particle/s orbit or orbits around

the nucleus?
- Electron
GENERAL PHYSICS 2

Structure of the Atom

Which two have almost the same mass?
- Proton and Neutron

Which subatomic particle is the smallest in

mass?
- Electron

Which two are equal in number?

- Proton and Electron
GENERAL PHYSICS 2

Charges

Elementary charges (e) Electrical Charges (q)

Proton (+e) and Electron (-e) Coulomb (C) – SI unit of charge

Conversion:
!"
6.24 𝑥 10 𝑒 = 1 𝐶
#!$
1 𝑒 = 1.602 𝑥 10 𝐶
GENERAL PHYSICS 2

Charges

Properties of Proton, Neutron, and Electron

Subatomic Particle Location Mass Charge
Proton Inside Nucleus 1.673 𝑥 10!"# 𝑘𝑔 1.602 𝑥 10!$% C
Neutron Inside Nucleus 1.675 𝑥 10!"# 𝑘𝑔 0
Electron Around Nucleus 9.109 𝑥 10!&$ 𝑘𝑔 -1.602 𝑥 10!$% C
GENERAL PHYSICS 2

CONDUCTORS AND
INSULATORS
GENERAL PHYSICS 2

Type of material based on its electrical conductivity

Conductors
– materials that readily allow the flow of charges through them.
– conducts electricity with little to no resistance
Example: metals
Insulators
– materials that resist the flow of charges.
Examples: rubber, plastic, mica, paper, glass, and air
GENERAL PHYSICS 2

Type of material based on its electrical conductivity

Semiconductors
– are intermediate between conductors and insulators
– not as conductive as metals, but they are more conductive than insulators
– can conduct electricity or not under certain conditions
– doping
Example: silicon, germanium, and gallium arsenide
Superconductors
– offer practically no resistance to the flow of charges below some critical
temperatures.
– a current in a superconductor can keep flowing without any decay
GENERAL PHYSICS 2

Valence Electron – electrons in the outermost shell of an atom

1 - 3 valence electrons – conductors
4 valence electron – semiconductor
5 - 8 valence electron – insulator
GENERAL PHYSICS 2

Valence Electron – electrons in the outermost shell of an atom

1 - 3 valence electrons – conductors
4 valence electron – semiconductor
5 - 8 valence electron – insulator
GENERAL PHYSICS 2
GENERAL PHYSICS 2
GENERAL PHYSICS 2
GENERAL PHYSICS 2

PROCESSES OF
CHARGING
GENERAL PHYSICS 2

PROCESSES OF CHARGING
CHARGING – process where atoms gain or lose electrons

THREE PROCESSES OF CHARGING:

1. Charging by Friction (triboelectric charging)
2. Charging by Conduction
3. Charging by Induction
GENERAL PHYSICS 2

CHARGING BY FRICTION
GENERAL PHYSICS 2

CHARGING BY FRICTION
Results when two different materials are rubbed together.

Electron affinity – measure of the attraction of an atom to an

electron or tendency of an atom to become negatively
charged
 Air tends to lose electrons
Human skin
Rabbit fur
GENERAL PHYSICS 2 Glass
Human hair

CHARGING BY FRICTION
Nylon
Wool
Silk

Triboelectric series:
Aluminum
Paper
Cotton
Steel
Wood

Increasing electron affinity

Hard rubber
Nickel, Copper
Brass, Silver
Gold, Platinum
Acetate fiber (Rayon)
Polyester
Cling film
Polyethylene
PVC
Silicon
Teflon

tends to gain electrons

 Air tends to lose electrons
Human skin
Rabbit fur
GENERAL PHYSICS 2 Glass
Human hair

SAMPLE PROBLEM
Nylon
Wool
Silk

1. A rubber comb runs through human hair. What charge is

Aluminum
Paper
Cotton

acquired by the hair and by the comb? Use the triboelectric

Steel
Wood

Increasing electron affinity

Hard rubber
series to answer the problem.
Nickel, Copper
Brass, Silver
Gold, Platinum
Acetate fiber (Rayon)
Polyester
Cling film
Polyethylene
PVC
Silicon
Teflon

tends to gain electrons

GENERAL PHYSICS 2

SAMPLE PROBLEM
2. When a glass rod is rubbed with a silk cloth, the rod
acquires a charge of magnitude 3.45 nC. (a) Did the glass rod
gain or lose electrons? (b) How many electrons were
transferred during the process? (c) What is the change in the
mass of the glass rod? (d) What is the change in the mass of
the silk cloth?
GENERAL PHYSICS 2

CHARGING BY CONDUCTION
GENERAL PHYSICS 2

CHARGING BY CONDUCTION
Requires physical contact between a charging body and a
neutral body. B
A

++++++ ––––––
–––––– ––––––

A gains electrons and becomes negatively charged.

B becomes less negatively charged.
GENERAL PHYSICS 2

CHARGING BY CONDUCTION
Requires physical contact between a charging body and a
neutral body. A B

++++++ ++++++
–––––– + + + + + +
GENERAL PHYSICS 2

CHARGING BY CONDUCTION
Requires physical contact between a charging body and a
neutral body. A B

++++++ ++++++
––– ++++++
–––
A loses electrons and becomes positively charged.
B remains positively charged.
GENERAL PHYSICS 2

CHARGING BY INDUCTION
GENERAL PHYSICS 2

CHARGING BY INDUCTION
Charging without physical contact with a charged body.
A B

+++ +++ ––––––

––– ––– ––––––

A is brought very near to B but doesn’t touch it

The electrons of A are repelled by B (Polarization).
GENERAL PHYSICS 2

CHARGING BY INDUCTION
Charging without physical contact with a charged body.
A B

– –––+++ ––––––
––– + + + ––––––
–

symbol for grounding

Touching A with a finger or connecting it to the ground will provide a

path for the electrons from A to escape to the ground
GENERAL PHYSICS 2

CHARGING BY INDUCTION
Charging without physical contact with a charged body.
A

++++++
––––

When B is removed, A becomes positively charged, since it loses electrons.

GENERAL PHYSICS 2

CHARGING BY INDUCTION
Charging without physical contact with a charged body.
A B

++++++ ++++++
–––––– ++++++

A is brought very near to B but doesn’t touch it

The electrons of A are attracted by B, while the positive charges are
repelled (Polarization).
GENERAL PHYSICS 2

CHARGING BY INDUCTION
Charging without physical contact with a charged body.
A B

– +++––– ++++++
+++ ––– ++++++
–

––
symbol for grounding
The electrons of A are attracted by B, while the positive
charges are repelled (Polarization).
GENERAL PHYSICS 2

CHARGING BY INDUCTION
Charging without physical contact with a charged body.
A B

+++––– ++++++
+++ ––– ++++++
––
When B is removed, A becomes negatively charged, because
it gains electrons
GENERAL PHYSICS 2

How do we determine the charge of a body?

Electroscope – a scientific device that is used to detect the
presence of an electric charge on a body.
GENERAL PHYSICS 2

How do we determine the charge of a body?

Electrometer – an electrical instrument for measuring
electric charge or electrical potential difference
GENERAL PHYSICS 2

Conservation of Charge
GENERAL PHYSICS 2

CONSERVATION OF CHARGE
The total charge of an isolated system remains constant.
Charges can neither be created nor destroyed.
GENERAL PHYSICS 2

CONSERVATION OF CHARGE
1. Metal sphere A has a net charge of +6.0 C. It is brought in
contact with a neutral metal sphere B and then separated.
Find the final charges on spheres A and B if (a) the sphere
have equal radius and (b) if the radius of sphere B is twice the
radius of sphere A.
GENERAL PHYSICS 2 ASSESSMENT
CONSERVATION OF CHARGE
1. Spheres A, B, and C have charges +8.0 C, +12.0 C, and
-5.0 C, respectively. The three spheres are allowed to touch
each other simultaneously and then separated. (a) What is
the total charge on the three spheres before and after
touching each other? (b) What is the final charge on each
sphere assuming they are identical? (c) What is the final
charge on each sphere assuming that 𝑟! = 𝑟" = 2𝑟# ?
GENERAL PHYSICS 2 ASSESSMENT
CONSERVATION OF CHARGE
2. A piece of Nylon cloth is used to clean the lenses of a pair
of eyeglasses. In doing so, (a) which becomes positively
charged? Assume that the lenses are made of glass.

In the process of rubbing the lenses of the eyeglasses,

$%
6.28 𝑥 10 electrons were transferred. (b) what is the
charge of the lenses and the nylon cloth? (c) What is the
change in their masses?