Electric

Charge
Chapter 19
Lesson 1
Objectives:

 Describe the properties of

static electricity.
 Distinguish between

conductors and insulators.

 Relate electric discharges to

lightning.
 Static Electricity
 Walking across a carpeted floor
and touching something can often
result in a shocking experience !
Electrons = negative
Protons = positive
Neutrons = neutral
(no charge)
 An atom contains equal
numbers of p+ and e-, so +
and – charges cancel out.
Objects are made of atoms
and usually have no net
electric charge (neutral).
Electrons are loosely bound to
atoms.
Protons are tightly locked within
the nucleus.
 Building Up Charge
Some atoms hold their electrons
more tightly than others.
Walking on a carpet, electrons that
are loosely held by atoms in the
carpet are transferred to the shoes.
Shoes gain electrons (have more e-):
negatively charged.
Carpet loses e- (has more p+):
positively charged.
 Conservation of Charge
 When objects become charged,
charge is neither created nor
destroyed.
 Electrons simply move from

one object to another.

Law of Conservation of
Charge:
 Opposites Attract

ATTRACT
REPEL REPEL

* Like charges repel

* Opposite charges attract.
 Force at a Distance
 Electric field =
 What is the relation between
electric attraction force and
distance between charges?

Charged
Comb Neutral
Paper
 Conductors =
Metallic conductors
• Metals are excellent conductors.
• Their atoms have e- that are able
to move easily through the
•material.
Copper, gold, silver.
Insulators =
• Prevent electric shock.
• Plastic, wood, rubber,
glass.
 Transferring Electric
Charge
 Charging by contact =
One object is left with a + charge
and the other with an equal amount
of – charge.

Example: shoes & carpet on Fig. 2 B.

  Charging by induction =

The sweater
was charged Charged
Balloon
by induction.
So the – balloon
clings to the +
Neutral
sweater. Wall
Lightning is…
 Grounding =

Lightning
rod
 ACTIVITY
(Lesson 1 Review)
1. Providing a path for electric charges to
flow safely into the ground is called ___
2. Distinguish between an electric
conductor and an electric insulator
3. Particles that attract each other are:
a) Two electrons
b) Two protons
c) One proton and one electrons
d) One proton and one neutron
4. Summarize. How does the electric force
between charged objects changes as the
objects move away from each other?
5. Complete the graphic organizer below:
Particle Type of Electric Charge

PROTON

ELECTRON

NEUTRON