(EAM) Static Electricity Part 2 Lesson

Static Electricity continued

Static electricity is the buildup of electrical charges on the surface of some object or material. Static electricity is usually created when materials are pulled apart or rubbed together, causing positive (+) charges to collect on one material and negative (−) charges on the other surface. Results from static electricity may be sparks, shocks, or materials clinging together.

Watch the short video clip below to introduce us to the topic of static electricity. 

Some materials cause or create more static electricity than others. Since static electricity is the collection of electrically charged particles on the surface of a material, various materials have a tendency to either give up electrons and become positive (+) in charge or attract electrons and become negative (−) in charge. The process of materials becoming charged when they come into contact with other materials is known as tribo-electric charging. Materials can be arranged in a tribo-electric series according to the likelihood of them gaining or losing electrons. If a material has equal numbers of positive and negative charges we describe it as being neutral (not favoring positive or negative overall charge). If a neutral material loses electrons it becomes electron deficient and has an overall positive charge. If a neutral material gains electrons it has excess electrons and an overall negative charge. For this reason, we describe the ordering of materials in the tribo-electric series as more positive or more negative depending on whether they are more likely to lose or gain electrons. This tribo-electric series can allow us to determine whether one material is likely to become charged from another material.

Tribo Electric Series Links to an external site.

In the remainder of this lesson, you will look at three various methods by which objects can become charged:  friction, conduction, and induction.

[CC BY 4.0] UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED | IMAGES: LICENSED AND USED ACCORDING TO TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION