Two types of electric charges Proton: positive charge Electron: negative charge

Positive charge of proton = negative charge of electron

Electrons bond more tightly than protons.

Static electricity: the accumulation of excess electric charge on an object

When an object becomes charged, charge is neither created nor destroyed

Law of Conservation of Charge: charge can be transferred from object to object, but it cannot be created or destroyed

Usually electrons move from one object to another

Unlike charges attract each other while like charges repel each other.

The force decreases as the charges get farther apart.

As the amount of charge on either object increases, the electrical force also increases

Electric field surrounds every electric charge and exerts the force that causes other electric charges to be repelled or attracted.

Represented by arrows that show how the electric field would make a positive charge move

The force of gravity is weaker than electric forces.

Insulators: a material in which electrons are not able to move easily Plastics, wood, rubber, glass

Conductors: a material in which electrons are able to move easily Best electrical conductors: metals

Rubbing two materials together can result in a transfer of electrons

Charging by Contact: the process of transferring charge by touching or rubbing

Charging by Induction: the rearrangement of electrons on a neutral object caused by a nearby object

Large static discharge Static discharge: a transfer of charge

between two objects because of a buildup of static electricity

Detects the presence of electric charges