Sec 4 Physics 2023

Unit 16: Static Electricity

Dunman Secondary School

Sec 4 Physics 6091
Unit 16 : Static Electricity

Name: _______________________ ( ) Class: ___________ Date: __________

Learning Outcomes:
Candidates should be able to:
(a) state that there are positive and negative charges and that charge is measured in coulombs
(b) state that unlike charges attract and like charges repel
(c) describe an electric field as a region in which an electric charge experiences a force
(d) draw the electric field of an isolated point charge and recall that the direction of the field lines gives the
direction of the force acting on a positive test charge
(e) draw the electric field pattern between two isolated point charges
(f) show understanding that electrostatic charging by rubbing involves a transfer of electrons
(g) describe experiments to show electrostatic charging by induction
(h) describe examples where electrostatic charging may be a potential hazard
(i) describe the use of electrostatic charging in a photocopier, and apply the use of electrostatic charging to new
situations

Electric Charges

1 All matter has electrical charges.

There are 2 types of charges

_____________ and ____________.

Positive charge comes from ___________

Negative charge comes from ___________

2 • No of protons > no of electrons, then the matter is _______________ charged

Eg. When matter loses electrons

• No of electrons > no of protons, then the matter is _______________ charged

Eg. When matter gains electrons

• No of electrons = no of protons, then the matter is _______________________

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Unit 16: Static Electricity

3 Electric charge is measured in _________________, its SI unit.

Law of Electrostatics

4 Like charges ___________ each other while unlike charges ____________ each
other

Methods of Charging

5 Matters can be charged with 3 ways

• By __________
method only works for electrical _______________

• By _____________
method only works for electrical conductors

• By ______________
method can work for both ________________ and _______________

6 By Friction

Eg 1. To charge the glass rod by rubbing with a silk cloth

Because of friction, the glass rod ______________________ to the silk cloth.

The rod now has more ______________ than ______________ hence it becomes
______________ charged while the silk cloth becomes ________________ charged.

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Unit 16: Static Electricity

Eg 2. To charge the balloon by rubbing with hairs

Because of friction, the balloon ___________________ from the hairs.

The balloon now has more ______________ than _____________ hence it becomes
_________________ charged while the hairs become ______________ charged.

When negatively charged balloon is brought near the positively hairs again, the hairs
will be attracted to the balloons because ____________________.

Q1 Can a neutral object (insulator) be attracted to a positively charged object or

negatively charged object? Explain why.

_______ a neutral object will be ____________ to an _______________ charged

object.

Eg. When a __________________ charged object is brought near a neutral object, it

induces ________________ charge on the side ______________ the charged
object, ________________ the _____________ charge on the far side the neutral
object.

The negative charge in neutral object is ________________ to the positively charged

object than its ________________ charge hence the force of ___________________
is __________________ than force of ________________.

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Unit 16: Static Electricity

7 By Induction

Eg 1. To charge a metal sphere positively by induction

The ________________ in the sphere

____________ the negatively charged rod and
____________ to the _________ side of the
sphere, __________ the __________ on the
side ___________ the rod.

The ______________ will be ______________

out of the sphere and flow down to _________.

The sphere becomes positively charged

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Unit 16: Static Electricity

Eg 2. To a charge metal sphere negatively by induction.

The ____________ in the sphere are

___________ to the positively charged rod and
will move to side ____________ the rod,
____________ the ____________ on the far
side.

The ______________ from earth will be

___________ into the sphere. These electrons
will ___________ the positive charges on the
sphere.

The sphere becomes negatively charged

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Unit 16: Static Electricity

Eg 3. To charge two metal spheres by induction.

The ___________ in the sphere ____ are

attracted to the positively charged rod and
will move to the side of sphere ____ facing
the rod, leaving the __________ on the far
side of sphere ___.

Sphere A becomes _______________

charged while sphere B becomes
_____________ charged

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Unit 16: Static Electricity

8 By Conduction

Charging by conduction can occurs when a charged object comes in _____________

with a neutral object.

After contact, both objects will have the ____________charge.

Eg. A uncharged sphere touches a positively charged plate

Sphere attracted to charged plate. Sphere becomes _______________

charged and _________ positively
Upon contact, sphere loses charged plate
_____________ to plate

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Unit 16: Static Electricity

Methods of Discharging

8 An electrically charged matter can be made neutral again by discharging the excess
charges.

• A charged ______________ can be neutralised by _________________.

• A charged ___________________ can be neutralised by ______________ or by

providing humid conditions

Electric Field

9 Definition

Electric field is defined as a region in which an

___________________________________________________________________ .

Electric Field Pattern

10 The direction of an electric force is the direction of the ______________ that acts on
a ______________________ charge.

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Unit 16: Static Electricity

11 Draw electric field pattern for

• A point charge (positive or negative charge)

+ -

positive charge negative charge

• Two point charges (unlike charges)

+ -

• Two point charges (like charges)

+ +

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Unit 16: Static Electricity

• Two parallel charged plates

*Note
Ensure the electric field lines between
the plates are
_________________________.

Why?
Because the electric _________ set up
by two parallel charged plates is
______________. In this region, an
electric charge will experience an
electric force that is ______________
throughout.

• Electric field pattern for a neutral sphere and a charged plate

Hazards of Electrostatics

12 Understanding what is meant by build up of charge.

Build up of charge refers to large accumulation of _______________ charge on the
surface of an object and it will find a way to be discharged.

Why build up of charge is dangerous?

Because of the ______________ between negative and positive charges in an object,
the object will find way to be _____________. During discharging, it will trigger flow of
static electricity (flow of ________________ in or out of the object). This electricity may
produce spark or electric shock.

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Unit 16: Static Electricity

13 Example 1
Need to wear a wrist strap that is
earthed so our body will always
be grounded and will remain at
neutral

Electrostatics sensitive device (ESD), are electrical components (eg semiconductors,

IC chip), that are sensitive to static electricity. When handling ESD, discharging of static
electricity from our __________ or __________ can damage these components.

14 Example 2
To prevent this, the aircraft and
the hose should be earthed
during refuelling

Refuelling of aircraft. Fuel flowing through the hose may cause the transfer of
___________________ between the fuel and hose, making them
____________________ charged. This may induce build up of charge on the surface
of aircraft body. If the build up of charge is not ______________ properly, it may trigger
flow of _______________ electricity in form of _____________ which will
____________ the flammable fuel.

15 Example 3

______________ between the ground and tyres will cause the tyres to
be______________ electrically charged. This ______________ a build up of an
__________ charge on the body of the vehicle. If the build up of charge is not
discharged properly, it may trigger flow of static electricity in form of ______________
or electric shock.
A conducting chain is lowered to the
ground to discharge these charges
before the handling of the flammable
liquids.

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Unit 16: Static Electricity

Tyres of aircraft are made up of material

that is slightly conducting so as the
aircraft will be grounded

16 Example 4

A lightning rod is a pointed metal rod that

is mounted on the top a structure to
capture the lightning stroke and direct the
discharge current safely to the ground.
This protects the structure from any
damage.

Lightning occurs because there is a build up of charge on the cloud and the ground.

Winds inside the cloud are very turbulent. This turbulent produces friction between
ice crystals, water droplets and air particles. This causes the particles to be
electrically charged.

When the build up of charge between the cloud and the ground is large, the air
between them will ionise and becomes more conducting, allowing the charge to
discharge to the ground in the form of lightning.

Applications of Electrostatics

17 Electrostatic Paint Spraying

The body to be painted is usually given an

______________ charge so the paint
droplets will be attracted it. Unlike
charges __________.

Advantages
________________________________
________________________________
A negative charge is given to the barrel of the spray paint nozzle. As the paint is
propelled through the gun, it gains electrons and becomes negatively charged.

The paint droplets have the ___________ charge hence they will spread __________
as like charges _______.

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Unit 16: Static Electricity

18 Electrostatic Precipitator

It is a type of cleaner that removes unwanted particles (smoke, dust) from a flow of
gas.

2. ______________
charged smoke
particles are attracted Positively charged
to ______________ collecting plates
charged plates
3. collecting plates are
1. smoke particles pick up knocked to remove the
a __________ charge smoke particles
Negatively charged metal
grid

19 Electrostatic Photocopier

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Unit 16: Static Electricity

Q2. When the negatively rod ebonite rod is brought near the metal knob, the two
leaves appear to repel each other. Explain this observation.

When the negatively rod ebonite rod is brought near the metal knob, it causes the
__________________ in the metal knob to ___________ and move __________ to
the metal leaves via the metal rod, leaving the _________________ charge on the
metal knob. The leaves becomes _______________ charged hence they repel each
other. (Like charges ____________)

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