LESSON I:

ELECTROSTATIC
S
OBJECTIVES:

A. Describe using a diagram charging by rubbing and charging

by induction.

B. Explain the role of electron transfer in electrostatic charging

by rubbing.

C. Describe experiments to show electrostatic charging by

induction.
2
ELECTROSTATICS – is a branch of physics that studies electric charges at
rest.
Electric charge - is a fundamental property of matter carried by
some elementary particles that governs how the
particles are affected by an electric or magnetic field.
The SI unit of charge is the Coulomb.
Symbol : q or Q
1 Coulomb = the charge of 6.24 x 1018 electrons

Two types of electric charges

•  Positive charge - every proton has a single positive charge.
• Negative charge - every electron has a single negative charge.

3
 Charged vs. Uncharged Particles/Objects
Positively Charged Negatively Charged Neutral / Uncharged
Possesses more protons Possesses more electrons Equal numbers of protons
than electrons. than protons. and electrons.

4
ELECTRIC FORCE and NEWTON’S 3rd LAW of MOTION
Electric force – is the force that exist between all charged particles.
Newton’s Third law: “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.”

Like charges repel. Opposite charges attract.

Any charged object , whether positively or negatively

charge will have an attractive interaction with a neutral
object.

5
CONDUCTORS & INSULATORS
CONDUCTORS are materials that permit electrons to flow freely from
particle to particle. Materials in which charges are free to move about are
called electrical conductors.

- -
-
-

------
-

- -
-
-

- -

Since conductors allow electrons to be transported from particle to

particle, a charged object will always distribute its charge until the overall
repulsive forces between excess electrons is minimized
6
Electron Movement within a Conductor

+ --
electrons -
+ -
_ Cola _ + -
+ Cola -

Negatively charged balloon was held near the
aluminium can, electrons are repelled and
induced to move to the other side of the can.
This electron movement leaves atoms on the
balloon's side of the can with a shortage of
electrons; they become positively charged. And
the atoms on the side opposite of the can have
an excess of electrons; they become negatively
charged.

The two sides of the aluminum pop can have opposite charges. Overall the can is
electrically neutral; it's just that the positive and negative charge has been separated from
each other. We say that the charge in the can has been polarized. 7
INSULATORS are materials in which charges are not free to move.
In contrast with conductors, if charge is transferred to an insulator at a given
location, the excess charge will remain at the initial location of charging.

Increasing Conducting Ability

Insulators Semi - conductors Conductors

Silicon

Germanium

Water

Carbon

Mercury

Iron

Aluminum

Copper

Silver
Rubber

Glass

Wool

Dry Air

8
METHODS of CHARGING
1. Charging by Friction
- is the transfer of electrons from one uncharged object to another by rubbing
the two objects together. 

Electron Affinity refers to the relative amount of love that a material has for electrons. If
atoms of a material have a high electron affinity, then that material will have a relatively high
love for electrons.

Example:
Suppose that a rubber balloon is rubbed with your hair.

Rubber has a much greater attraction for electrons than your

hair. As a result, the atoms of rubber pull electrons from the
atoms of hair, leaving both objects with an imbalance of
charge.
9
Triboelectric Series – is a list that ranks materials
according to their tendency to gain or lose electrons.

Subsequently, when any two materials in the table are

rubbed together, the one that is higher can be expected to
pull electrons from the material that is lower.

Law of Conservation of Charges

• The electric charge can neither be created nor destroyed.
• In a closed system, the amount of charge remains the
same. When something changes its charge it doesn't create
charge but transfers it.

10
2. Charging by Conduction
- Charging by conduction involves the contact of a charged object to a neutral
object.
Example:
A neutrally charged student touching a van de Graaff generator.

11
3. Charging by Induction
- is charging an object without touching the neutral
object to a charged object.

Metal spheres

+ -- + -
+ - ++ + + - -

-
+
-
- + -
+ - + -
+ +
+ -- +
++ - -
-

12
Insulating stand
The Importance of a Ground in Induction Charging

Grounding
Symbol: Providing a path from a charged object to the Earth is called
grounding it. Charges will be attracted from (or repelled to)
the Earth by the charged object. Since the Earth is so large,
both the charged object and the Earth are neutralized.

13
The Importance of a Ground in Induction Charging

Grounding
Symbol: Providing a path from a charged object to the Earth is called
grounding it. Charges will be attracted from (or repelled to)
the Earth by the charged object. Since the Earth is so large,
both the charged object and the Earth are neutralized.

14
The Importance of a Ground in Induction Charging

Grounding
Symbol: Providing a path from a charged object to the Earth is called
grounding it. Charges will be attracted from (or repelled to)
the Earth by the charged object. Since the Earth is so large,
both the charged object and the Earth are neutralized.

15
Exercises:

1. Mark is investigating the charge on several objects and makes the following findings.

Object C Object D Object E Object F

Attracts A Repels C Attracts D and Attracts B
repels F

Mark knows that object A is electrically neutral and object B is positively charged.
What is the charge on objects C, D, E, and F?

16
Exercises:

1. Mark is investigating the charge on several objects and makes the following findings.

Object C Object D Object E Object F

Attracts A Repels C Attracts D and Attracts B
repels F

Mark knows that object A is electrically neutral and object B is positively charged.
What is the charge on objects C, D, E, and F?
Answer :
C = positive
D = Positive
E = Negative
F = Negative

17
2. Polyethylene sheet has a larger electron affinity than Cotton. If Cotton is rubbed
against Polyethylene sheet, which would end up with the excess negative charge?
____________ Explain.

3. A neutral metal sphere is touched by a negatively charged metal rod. As a result,

the sphere will be ____ and the metal rod will be ____. Select the two answers in their
respective order.
a. positively charged
b. negatively charged
c. neutral
d. much more massive

18
2. Polyethylene sheet has a larger electron affinity than Cotton. If Cotton is rubbed
against Polyethylene sheet, which would end up with the excess negative charge?
____________ Explain.

3. A neutral metal sphere is touched by a negatively charged metal rod. As a result,

the sphere will be ____ and the metal rod will be ____. Select the two answers in their
respective order.
a. positively charged
b. negatively charged
c. neutral
d. much more massive
Answer:
2.Polyethylene,
When two materials are rubbed together, the material with the greatest affinity for electrons is the
material which takes electrons away from the other material. Polyethylene takes electrons from cotton
and acquires the negative charged and cotton becomes positively charged.
3. B 19
4. A neutral metal sphere is touched by a negatively charged metal rod. During the
process, electrons are transferred from the _____ to the _____ and the sphere
acquires a _____ charge.

a. neutral sphere, charged rod, negative

b. neutral sphere, charged rod, positive
c. charged rod, neutral sphere, negative
d. charged rod, neutral sphere, positive

5. Base on the Triboelectric series on the page 12. Identify the charges of each
material after rubbing them to each other.

a. Nylon sheet ______________ vs. Cotton _______________

b. Glass _____________ vs. Silk ______________
c. Acrylic ______________ vs. Wool ______________
20
ANSWER:

4. C

5. a) positive, Negative
b) positive, negative
C. )Negative , positive

21