ELECTROSTATICS

Introduction
Introduction
The Atom and electric charge
Atoms are electrically neutral because their
protons (positive charges) are equal to their
electrons (negative charges).
The nucleus of the atom is central and
contains;
- Protons
- Neutrons
Electrons are found on shells outside of the
nucleus.
Charging materials
The image shows some balloons held in place on
a wall. This is possible because of electrostatic
forces.
Charging materials
In order for the balloons to stick, they had to
be rubbed on cloth such as wool.

Some materials, when rubbed, gain electrons

from the atoms in the material they are being
rubbed against.
Charging materials
Other materials lose electrons to the material
they are being rubbed against.
When electrical insulators gain or lose electrons
in this way it is left with an excess charge which
stays in place when the materials are separated.
We say the material has been charged with
static electricity.
Charging materials
When a material that gains electrons is rubbed and has more
negative than positive charges it is said to be negatively
charged.
A material that loses electrons when rubbed has less
negative charges than positive charges and is said to be
positively charged.

Protons are never transferred in this charging process,

they are locked in the nucleus.
Charging materials
When a balloon is rubbed on a cloth it receives electrons and
becomes negatively charged. If two balloons suspended on a
nylon thread, are charged and placed close to each other, they
move apart.
The negative charges repel each other because like charges
repel.
Charging materials
If a positively charged material is placed close to
the negatively charged balloon hanging on a thread
the balloon moves towards the material.
This happens because unlike charges attract.
Charging materials
Review
When a piece of polythene is rubbed with a
dry woollen cloth, electrons move from the
cloth to the polythene.
Which material becomes:
a) positively charged
b) negatively charged?
Review
When a piece of perspex is rubbed with a dry
woolen cloth, electrons move to the cloth.
Which material becomes:
a) positively charged
b) negatively charged?
Review
If the charged piece of polythene is set up as in the
image, and a charged piece of perspex is brought close
to it, will the polythene swing towards or away from the
perspex? Explain.
Insulators and conductors
An insulator is a material that can become charged with static
electricity. When electrons are transferred to the insulator
they stay in place and the insulator becomes negatively
charged.

Metals cannot be charged by rubbing like insulators because

electrons flow easily through metals. A material through which
electrons can flow is called a conductor.
Induced charges
If a material has an electric charge, it can make or ‘induce’
an electric charge on the surface of a material nearby
without touching the material.
For example, if a plastic pen is rubbed and held above a
tiny piece of paper, the positive charge on the pen draws
electrons to the surface of the paper nearest to the plastic.
This makes the uppermost surface of the paper negatively
charged.
Induced charges
When the pen is placed close to the paper the
attractive forces are so strong that paper springs up to
the surface of the pen.
Induced charges
The underside of the paper now has a positive charge but
since this charge is further away from the pen, the attractive
force is greater than the repulsive force.
Charging a material without touching it is called charging by
induction.
Induced charges
Sparks and Flashes
Even though air is a poor conductor of electricity, we are
able to witness flashes of lightning across the skies during
thunderstorms.
If the size of the charge on two oppositely charged
surfaces is very large, the air between them may conduct
electricity as a spark or flash of lightning.
 Sparks and Flashes
The molecules of air become charged. They form
negative electrons and positive ions. The
electrons move towards the positive charges and
the positive ions move towards the negative
surface.
As the electrons move, they collide with other air
particles and produce more positive ions and
electrons. They all continuously travel towards
their oppositely charged surface.
This process occurs quickly and produces a spark.
Sparks and Flashes
When the charged air particles
meet the charged surfaces, the
positive and negative charges
cancel each other out and the
surfaces lose their charge.
They are said to have been
discharged.
Discharging
When an aircraft flies through the air, its
surfaces are rubbed against air particles and
it becomes charged with static electricity. If
the aircraft, while charged is being refuelled,
a spark can be produced.
The heat from the spark is enough to cause
an explosion.
For this reason, aircrafts are equipped with
special tyres that can conduct electricity that
passes the excess charge to the ground.
 Lightning
During a storm, winds move through the cloud
and rub against the large raindrops and hail
stones.
This rubbing produces charged particles in the
cloud. The positively charged particles collect
at the top of the cloud and the negative
particles collect at the base,
The difference in the size of the different
charges in the cloud can become so large that
lightning, called sheet lightning is produced.
Lightning
The negative charge at the base of the
cloud induces a positive charge on the
ground below. If the charges become
large enough, a flash of lightning
called forked lightning occurs
between them.
The van de Graaff generator
The van de Graaff generator was developed
in 1931 by Robert van de Graaff. The
machine produces a huge charge of static
electricity.

The device consists of two rollers, one made

of perspex, the other made of polythene
along with a rubber belt that runs over the
two rollers.
The van de Graaff generator
When the perspex is at the base, the belt
running over it becomes negatively charged.
The charged part of the belt rises to the
polythene roller at the top where the negative
charges are transferred to the hollow dome.

The belt moves over the roller and back to the

base where it becomes negatively charged
again.
The van de Graaff generator
When the rollers are reversed and the polythene
roller is placed at the base of the generator, the belt
becomes positively charged and the charge is
transferred to the dome.
Very high charges can be stored in the dome and
released when necessary.
The van de Graaff generator
Digital sensors
A capacitor is a device used to store charge.
Capacitors are used in many of our modern
electronic devices.
The charge is stored in the metal plates. The
material between the plates, called the
dielectric, stops the charge from crossing
between them.
The charge is then released when a conductor is
switched into a circuit.
 Digital sensors
Since its invention, capacitors have been used in
all kinds of electronic devices such as;
❖ Sensors that detect light intensity changes
❖ Touchscreens on mobile phones
❖ Satellite navigation
❖ Computer displays, where your fingertip and
the screen acts like the plates of a capacitor
and the tiny difference in charge between
them is used to trigger a response.
Review