John Travoltage Lab

John Travoltage - Static Electricity Lab Activity #1

Open Ended

Bellwork : Which of the 3 subatomic particles ( protons, electrons, or neutrons ) are transferred to result in charged atoms/objects? Where is that particle located in the atom?

Objectives -

Review parts of the atom
Review "charging" concepts

Static Electricity Introduction

Multiple Choice

What are the 3 main particles in an atom?

• protons, neutrons, and electrons

• borons, neutrons, and electrons

• borons, neutrons, and the nucleus

• borons, the nucleus, and electrons

Multiple Choice

Which particle is on the outside of an atom?

• protons

• borons

• neutrons

• electrons

I will demonstrate but you can use the sim yourself at John Travoltage - Static Electricity - PhET Interactive Simulations (colorado.edu).

**I suggest making sure your sound is on and his hand is not near the doorknob when you begin, such as this...

**

I will demonstrate but you can play with sim yourself at John Travoltage - Static Electricity - PhET Interactive Simulations (colorado.edu).

The orange refresh symbol in the lower-right of the picture can be used to reset the simulation.

1] First, grab the foot closer to the door and scrape it against the rug. "Scrape" only a few times.

2] After only a handful or two of negative charges are added to his body, slowly bring his hand down to the doorknob, until...

**You should see and even hear a static discharge.

Had to bring his hand pretty close to the doorknob, right?

Multiple Choice

What do the blue negative charges represent?

• protons

• neutrons

• electrons

• the nucleus

Multiple Choice

What needs to be done to accumulate electrons in John Travoltage?

• Touching the doorknob

• Rubbing his foot on the carpet

• Moving his arm

Multiple Choice

How is that making electrons accumulate in John Travoltage?

• friction

• heat

• motion

3] Reset the sim. Now, "scrape" the foot against the rug long enough so that John Travoltage appears to be full of charge, as shown to the right. [ It might take a full minute! ]

4] Then slowly bring his hand close to the doorknob again until you see and hear the static discharge again.

*Hint: you should not have to bring his hand as close to the doorknob.

Didn't have to bring his hand as close to the doorknob, right?

Multiple Choice

How do you get more electrons to accumulate in John Travoltage?

• don't bring his hand so close to the doorknob

• bring his hand closer to the doorknob

• rub his foot on the rug more

Multiple Choice

How is that making more electrons accumulate in John Travoltage?

• more heat is building-up in the rug

• more electrons are being moved from the rug to his foot

• it is pulling more electrons down from the doorknob

Multiple Choice

When he had A LOT of charge built-up, how close did he need to bring his hand to the doorknob for the discharge?

• not very close

• very close

Multiple Choice

When he had ONLY A LITTLE charge built-up, how close did he need to bring his hand to the doorknob for the discharge?

• not very close

• very close

Multiple Select

Why do you think the distance his hand must be from the doorknob depends on the amount of charge? [ select all that apply ]

• there is no relationship between the two

• less charge means it doesn't need to be as close

• less charge means it needs to be closer

• more charge means it doesn't need to be as close

• more charge means it needs to be closer

Poll

Exit-Pass A : I understand how objects can be charged by friction.

• Absolutely!!

• Kind of, but need more practice.

• Not at all!

• Repeat the questions, please?

Poll

Exit-Pass B : I understand that more friction between objects in contact leads to more charging.

• Absolutely!!

• Kind of, but need more practice.

• Not at all!

• Repeat the questions, please?