Electricity Notes

Electricity
Q: How is lightning similar to getting an electric shock when you reach for metal knob?

​Electric charges are from protons & electrons.

Protons - POSITIVE

Electrons - NEGATIVE

Electric Charges

Multiple Choice

True or False: Electrons have positive charges!

• True

• False

​The electric charge that builds up on the surface of an object is called a static charge.

Atoms will become charged if they gain or lose electrons.

Static Electricity

Multiple Choice

Is the figure a positive, negative, or neutral charge?

• Positive

• Negative

Law of Conservation of Charge

Electric charges can be transferred from one object to the other.

Just like conservation of mass and conservation of energy, the Law of Conservation of Charge  means that electric charges cannot be created or destroyed only transferred.

• Positive and negative charges exert forces on each other call the Law of Attraction.

  • Positive seeks Negative and vice versa.

  • HOWEVER, like charges will repel one another.

Law of Conservation of Charge

Insulators are a material where electrons are not able to move easily through such as wood, plastic, and rubber.

Ex) Rubber boots, trees blown apart by lightning strike

Insulators

Conductors are a material that electrons can move easily such as metals.

 Ex) Electric fences,electric wires, lighting rods

Conductors

Conductors VS. Insulators

Multiple Choice

What is a conductor?

• A conductor is a material or device that allows the flow of electrical current.
• A conductor is a device used to measure temperature.
• A conductor is a type of insulator.
• A conductor is a person who directs an orchestra.

​Charging by Contact - process of transferring charge by touching or rubbing an object.

Charging Objects

Charging by Induction - rearrangement of electrons on a neutral object caused by nearby charged objects.

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​Charging Objects