Static Electricity

http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/static.html

By: Annette Miles

Everything around us is made of atoms. So far, scientists have

found only _____ different kinds of atoms. Everything you see is made of different combinations of these

atoms.

115

PARTS OF AN ATOMSo, of what are atoms made? In the middle of each atom is a _____________. The nucleus contains two kinds of tiny particles, called __________ and ___________. Orbiting around

the nucleus are even smaller particles called ____________.

nucleus protons

neutrons electrons

The 115 kinds of atoms are different from each other because they have

different ____________ of protons, neutrons and electrons.

numbers

Oxygen atom Carbon atom

It is useful to think of a model of the atom as similar to the solar system. The _________ is in the center of the

atom like the _____ is in the center of the solar system. The __________ orbit around the nucleus like the ________

around the sun.

sun

electrons planets

nucleus

Just like in the solar system, the ________is large compared to the

electrons. The atom is mostly ______________, and the electrons are

very far away from the nucleus. While this model is not completely accurate,

we can use it to help us understand static electricity.

Empty Space

nucleus

empty space

Protons, neutrons and electrons are very different from each other. They have their own properties, or characteristics. One of

these properties is called an __________________.

• Protons have what we call a ___________charge.

• Electrons have a ____________charge.

• Neutrons have ___________; they are neutral.

positive (+)

negative (-)

no charge

electrical charge

The charge of one proton is ______ in strength to the charge of one electron.

When the number of protons in an atom equals the number of electrons, the atom

itself has no overall charge; it is _____________.

3 protons

+3

electrons =

NeutralCharge

equal

neutral

The protons and neutrons in the nucleus are held together very tightly. Normally the nucleus does not change. But some of the outer electrons are held very loosely. They can move from one atom to another. An

atom that loses electrons has more positive charges (protons) than negative charges (electrons). It is ____________ charged.

positively

An atom that gains electrons has more negative than positive particles. It has a ____________ charge. A charged atom

is called an “_________." negative

ion

Some materials hold their electrons very tightly. Electrons do not move through them very well.

These things are called ____________. Plastic, cloth, glass, and dry air are good insulators.

insulators

Other materials have some loosely held electrons, which move

through them very easily. These are called ___________. Most metals are good conductors.

conductors

How can we move electrons from one place to another? One very common way is to ____ two objects together. If they are made of different materials, and are both insulators, electrons

may be transferred (or moved) from one to the other. The more rubbing, the more electrons move, and the larger the

static charge that builds up.

Both objects are

neutral

Balloon is negatively

charged…the hand is positively

charged.

rub

Static electricity is the __________ of

__________ and _________ charges.

Now, positive and negative charges behave in interesting ways. Did you ever hear the

saying that opposites attract? Well, it's true.

imbalance positive negative

Two things with opposite, or different charges (a positive and a

negative) will ________ or pull towards each other.

attract

Things with the same charge (two positives or two negatives) will ______ or push away from each

other.

repel

What does that have to do with static electricity in hair? When you take off your

hat, it rubs against your hair. Electrons move from your hair to the hat. A static

charge builds up and now each of the hairs has the same positive charge. Remember,

things with the same charge repel each other. So the hairs try to get as far from

each other as possible. Try rubbing a balloon

vigorously against your hair. What happens?

As you walk across a carpet, electrons move from the rug to you. Now you have extra electrons and a negative static charge. Touch a door knob and ZAP! The door knob is a conductor. The electrons jump from you to the knob, and you feel the static shock.

We usually only notice static electricity in the ________ when the air is very

_____. The air is more humid during the summer. The water in the air helps

electrons move off you more quickly, so you cannot build up as big of a

static charge.

winter dry

REVIEW1. Everything around us is made of

___________.

2. In the middle of an atom is the ___________.

3. The nucleus is made up of ___________ and ______________.

4. Orbiting the nucleus are the ____________.

5. Electrons have a ____________ charge, and protons have a ____________ charge.

atoms

nucleus

protonsneutro

ns electrons

negativepositive

6. When two objects rub together, ___________ can transfer from one of the objects to the other.

7. An atom that loses an electron has a __________ charge; an atom that gains an electron has a ___________ charge.

8. Static electricity is due to the ____________ of positive and negative charges.

9. Two things with opposite charges ___________ while two things with the same charges ________.

electrons

positive

negative

imbalance

attract

repel

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http://www.aeronomie.be/multimedia/images/research/solarsystem-artist.jpg http://edu.glogster.com/media/9/53/26/69/53266970.gif

http://scienceforkids.kidipede.com/chemistry/atoms/pictures/oxygen.jpg http://www.google.com/imgres?q=atom&hl=en&sa=X&qscrl=1&rlz=1T4ADSA_enUS387US388&biw=584&bih=733&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=cHtRK7rZq9AxWM:&imgrefurl=http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/atommodels.htm&docid=1WekoOdXD0SY1M&imgurl=http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/Graphics/atom.jpg&w=216&h=212&ei=Pgt_UI71AabO2AXWmIHIBQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=20&vpy=97&dur=1160&hovh=169&hovw=172&tx=104&ty=48&sig=114008313194622623840&page=2&tbnh=146&tbnw=129&start=16&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:19,s:0,i:194 http://www.google.com/imgres?q=static+electricity&hl=en&sa=X&rlz=1R2ADSA_enUS387&biw=907&bih=733&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=lo7dVj92bNAZfM:&imgrefurl=http://www.electrostatics.com/page2.html&docid=ROUx7PD_LYapcM&imgurl=http://www.electrostatics.com/electro1.gif&w=393&h=157&ei=AAx_UMKaLei42wXA0YGICg&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=349&sig=114008313194622623840&page=2&tbnh=96&tbnw=242&start=16&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:18,s:0,i:191&tx=166&ty=72 http://curriculum.cna.ca/curriculum/cna_atomic_theory/images/Negative-Ion.gif http://curriculum.cna.ca/curriculum/cna_atomic_theory/images/Positive-Ion.gif

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http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/images/static_force_opposite.gif http://www.google.com/imgres?q=static+electricity+opposites+attract&hl=en&sa=X&qscrl=1&rlz=1T4ADSA_enUS387US388&biw=787&bih=733&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=gdRY_2R1o-AfvM:&imgrefurl=http://www.jonathanfeicht.com/static-electricity.html&docid=pXyigPu1LcrQgM&imgurl=http://www.jonathanfeicht.com/uploads/7/8/0/6/7806643/8699197.gif&w=191&h=218&ei=Zip_ULr3DMng2QW5mIHIBA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=391&vpy=220&dur=504&hovh=174&hovw=152&tx=81&ty=99&sig=114008313194622623840&page=3&tbnh=143&tbnw=125&start=31&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:17,s:20,i:186 http://www.electricityforum.com/static-electricity.html

http://c03.apogee.net/contentplayer/templates/kids/images/static.jpg

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