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Unit III Electricity & Magnetism

Static Electricity Intro

Fill In the Blanks Notes

I. Static Electricity - electronic charges flowing in no particular direction. (trapped in a body)

A) Electricity of the Atom

Atoms are
ordinarily neutral

#p = #e-

n has no charge

p has +1 charge

e- has -1 charge

Charge electron

-1.6 x 10^-19 Coulombs
(Reference)

Did you know ....

Benjamin Franklin

National Portrait Gallery, London: NPG 327
Author - Joseph Siffred Duplessis (died 1802)

coined the terms positive and negative for electrical charge
proved lightning was static electricity
invented lightning rod
built a static electricity generator

1. Atoms become charged by gaining or losing ...

Electrons

3 Big Rules of Electrostatics

Opposites Attract

Likes Repel

Only Electrons Move

(Protons move, but don't leave nucleus)

Charge plates can deflect an electron

Mg⁺²		F^-1
Mg atom Lost 2 electrons		F atom gained 1 electron

20 p , 18 e-
What's the charge?

+ 2

Why are protons never lost or gained?

Protons are held in the nucleus by the strongest forces in the universe

a) Ion: electrically charged particle:

Charge is unbalanced

negative charge

#e > #p

positive charge

#p > #e

2. Charged objects lose their charge when grounded. (become neutral)

[ Flash ]

"What is the

bottom prong of

a plug called?"

"The bottom prong of
a plug called the ground.
It discharges any excess
charge that may develop
in an electrical device"

When grounded:

Negatively charged objects ...

... lose electrons

and become neutral.

Positively charged object ...

... gain electrons

and to become neutral.

Electroscope