Atoms and electricity

Atoms are the basis for everything in the universe. All matter is composed of atoms.
Solids are made of densely packed atoms while gases have atoms that are spread out. Protons,
electrons, and neutrons are the basic parts of atoms. The parts of the atom include positive
and negative charges and are responsible for the electrical charges known as electricity.

Electrons are the smallest of the three particles that make up atoms. They are located
in an area that surrounds the nucleus of an atom. Electrons have negative charges. Protons,
electrons, and neutrons are all related to electric charges.

Protons have positive charges. Protons are large and are found in the nucleus. Along
with neutrons, they are grouped together in the center of the atom.

Neutrons are neutral and do not have a charge. They are large and are found in the
nucleus grouped together with the protons.

Atoms start out with the same number of electrons and protons. Under certain
conditions, electrons can be removed from an atom or added to an atom. Removing electrons
would leave the atom with more positive than negative charges.

Electricity is the transfer of electrons from one atom to another. Electrons have a
negative charge, they sometimes are attracted to atoms that have a positive charge. Electrons
orbit in an area that surrounds the nucleus of an atom. Electrons then sometimes jump to the
shells of nearby atoms as they orbit. This jumping or movement of electrons creates electric
current. Current is what flows through electrical wires and powers electronics items, from light
bulbs to televisions.

Electrical charges are created in power plants that goes through power lines to bring
electricity into homes or businesses.

Static electricity is the imbalance of positive and negative charges in an object. Static
electricity is created when electrons move from one place to another. Electrons can move
more easily in some objects than in others. The rubbing of certain materials against one
another can transfer negative charges, or electrons.

An example of static electricity is when a balloon is charged by rubbing it on the hair. It

picks up extra electrons and has a negative charge. Holding it near a neutral object will make
the charges in that object move. This is an example of static electricity. Another example
involves clothing is in a dryer. The fabrics rub together and there is an exchange of electrons
from the surfaces of the clothing. They are then attracted to each other and cling together. The
crackling sound heard comes from the electrons being pulled away from each other when the
clothes are separated.

In summary, without atoms and the interaction between electrons, protons, and
neutrons, it would not be possible to have electricity. The main parts of an atom included
protons with positive charges, electrons with negative charges, and neutrons with no charge.
Electrical current is produced in power plants and is then transferred to homes and businesses
through power lines. Finally, a common form of electricity is static electricity which often
occurs when electrons rub off and on various objects and interact with each other.
 Static Electricity

The build-up of an electric charge on the surface of an object is called static electricity.
The charges of the electricity remain in one area, or remains 'static', and they do not move or
'flow' to another area. Static electricity can be observed every day such as when a person rubs
their feet on the carpet and then gets zapped when they touch something.

It is static electricity that builds upon the surface of the skin and then it discharges
onto what is touched. Other examples include the hair on a person's head when it sticks
straight up or when pant legs keep sticking to a person's legs. It is all static electricity that
builds up on the surface of the objects.

Static electricity comes from the interaction of atoms. Atoms are made up of tiny
particles called protons, neutrons, and electrons. The nucleus of an atom is made up of
neutrons and protons, and the electrons spin on the outside of the nucleus. The static
electricity is created when the electrons from one object move to the other object. One object
has a negative charge and the other has a positive charge. When objects are rubbed together
quickly, there will be a greater charge.

Items with negative and positive charges, different charges, will attract, while items
with similar charges will push away from each other, just like with a magnet. An example is
when a person slides down a slide, and the friction of sliding causes a positive charge to be
built up on each hair. Each hair has the same charge meaning they will try to push away from
each other causing them to stand up.

In the same manner, if the skin is charged with static electricity and the person touches
metal, which is a good conductor of electricity, it will quickly discharge the static electricity
creating a zap or sometimes a small spark.

There are several applications for static electricity in the real world, and not just for
getting zapped by touching things. It is used in printers and copying machines. The static
electric charges attract the ink, or toner, to the paper. Static electricity is also used for paint
sprayers, air filters, and dust removal.

Though static electricity can be helpful, it can also cause damage. For example, some
electronic chips like those inside computers are very sensitive to static electricity. Special bags
are often used to store electrical components, so they are not damaged or destroyed by the
static charges. In addition, people who work with these kinds of electronics must wear special
straps that keep them 'grounded'. In this way, they do not build up a static charge and cause
damage to the electronic components.

There is very little current with static electricity and it only lasts for a short period of
time, though it can measure thousands of volts. Overall, it has very little power or energy.
However, lightning is a powerful and dangerous example of static electricity, and the
temperatures in a lightning bolt can hit 50,000°F. Finally, static electricity builds up much more
and faster on a dry, non-humid day.

In summary, static electricity is created due to the interaction between the particles of
atoms of different objects. Most times, static electricity does not cause many problems and it
can be helpful, but it may damage some electronic components and as part of lightning strikes
it can be deadly.
Questions

1) Which of the following parts of an atom have no charge?

A) Proton B) Electron C) Neutron D) Nucleus

2) Which of the following parts of an atom have a positive charge?

A) Proton B) Electron C) Neutron D) Nucleus

3) Which of the following parts of an atom have a negative charge?

A) Proton B) Electron C) Neutron D) Nucleus

4) Which of the following is the transfer of electrons from one atom to another?

A) Electricity B) Static electricity C) Both a and b D) Neither a nor b

5) Which of the following flows through electrical wires and powers electronics items, from
light bulbs to televisions?

A) Static electricity B) Neutron current C) Nucleus charges D) Electric current

6) Which of the following causes the crackling sound heard from the electrons being pulled
away from each other when the clothes from a dryer are separated?

A) Static electricity B) Neutron current C) Nucleus charges D) Electric current

7) All the following are tiny particles that are parts of atoms EXCEPT:

a) Neutrons b) Protons c) Electrons d) Molecules

8) Fill in the blanks: Items with negative and positive charges will ___, while items with similar
charges will ___ from each other.

A) Attract/push away B) Push away/attract

C) Neutralize/push away D) Neutralize/attract

9) All the following are examples of the application of static electricity in the real world
EXCEPT:

A) Printers b) Copying machines c) Candles d) Paint sprayers

10) Which of the following are very sensitive to static electricity?

A) Air filters B) Magnets C) Electronic chips D) Dust removal machines

11) Which of the following weather conditions is conducive for static electricity?

A: Dry, non-humid day

B: Rainy, warm day

C: High humid day

D: Cool, non-humid day

12) Which of the following is the approximate temperature in a lightning bolt?

A) 50,000°F

B) 5,000°F

C) 500,000°F

D) None of the above

13) Which part of atoms cause static electricity?

A) Neutrons

B) Electrons

C) Protons

D) Quasar