Static Electricity

Atoms, in their natural state, have the same number of protons and electrons. Since electrons and protons have exactly the same amount of charge but of opposite polarity, the charges balance each other out and the atom will have no overall (net) charge.

For example, let's say that Joe gets $5 each week for allowance. That's +5. But if Joe owes Sam $5, that's -5. How much money does Joe have?

Joe has no money! Because +5-5 = 0

Joe has a net worth of $0.

Now let's talk a little electricity! (Charge)

Copper Atom

Now, consider this drawing of a copper atom. You will notice that it has 29 Positive Protons in the nucleus, and 29 Negative Electrons in orbit around the nucleus. This atom also has 29 Neutrons in the nucleus, but since they have no charge at all they are not important in this discussion. Over all, this copper atom has a neutral charge because the electrons and protons are the same in number and the plus charge of the protons is canceled out by the negative charge of the electron.

Protons have positive charge +29

Electrons have negative charge -29

All Total............................ 0

Any atom that has equal numbers of protons and electrons is called a neutral atom because it's over all charge is neutral. Meaning it has no over all or "net" charge.

In order to have an over all charge on an atom, work must be done to add or take away some of it's electrons. Remember that the protons are deep in the nucleus of an atom and cannot be removed or added so we have to work with the electrons if we wish to charge an atom.

If we remove one electron from the above atom, the atom will be left with a positive over all charge.

Protons have positive charge +29

Electrons have negative charge -28 only 28 electrons

All Total............................ +1

If we add one electron to the atom above, the atom will have a negative over all charge.

Protons have positive charge +29

Electrons have negative charge -30

All Total............................ -1

An atom that has lost or gained an electron is called an Ion. Pronounced (eye-on).

An atom that has gained an extra electron is called a negative ion.

An atom that has lost an electron is called a positive ion.

So, What About Static Electricity

Question:

What is static electricity, and where does it come from?

Answer:

Static electricity is defined as charge at rest. When work is done on atoms to add or take away electrons, the atoms become imbalanced and take on a charge. Atoms take on a negative charge if they gain electrons and positive if the atoms loose electrons. If we have enough of these charged atoms gathered up in one spot---WOW!

Lightning is an example of static electricity in the air. When little ice crystals whirl around in the clouds, they bump into each other and swap electrons back and forth. If enough charge is accumulated in the clouds, look out!

Have you ever walked across the carpet on a winter day and then got a shock when you touched the doorknob? As you walked across the carpet, your shoes scrubbed electrons off of the carpet fibers. The electrons built up on your body. You can accumulate several hundred volts of static electricity on your body just by walking across the floor. Down south where I live, the air is so damp most of the time the static charge on my body (electrons) jumps off into water droplets in the air long before I get to the doorknob. In the winter, however; the air is dry and the electrons that get scrubbed off of the carpet jump onto my shoes and then into my socks and build up on my body. I get all charged up with negative ions. Then when I get to the doorknob which is made of metal and is a good conductor of electricity, POW! The electrons hop off of my body onto the doorknob. If you turn the lights out, sometimes you can see the spark.

Safety Note: Most people have sense enough to get out of the rain, so people who are struck by lightning are not out standing in the rain as you might think. People who are struck by lightning are usually miles out in front of the rain. If you hear a thunder storm in the distance, take cover inside. Static electricity builds up in the atmosphere miles ahead of the storm and this is where most fatalities from lightning occur. Golfers are the most likely group of people to die from lightning strike. They are not golfing in the rain. They are trying to finish the game before the storm arrives.

Do you have any interesting lightning stories to tell, I would love to here them. Email me!

Experiment Three

Follow the steps below

Gather the material in the material list for Experiment Three.
Tear off a piece of notebook paper about the size of a quarter.
Touch a comb to the piece of paper. Nothing happens right.
Now take the comb and rub the paper with it.
After rubbing the paper with the comb, pick up the comb. What happened?

Having trouble?

If the paper does not stick to the comb, try some different paper. Some paper has a static coating on it.
Still doesn't stick, try a different comb.
Try washing your comb to remove any natural oil off of it and try again when it is completely dry.

What to Notice

You should have noticed that before you rubbed the paper and comb together, they did not stick to each other. Why? Both the comb and the paper are made of balanced atoms.
When work is done (rubbing) the electrons on the paper were scrubbed off onto the comb. This means that the comb gained electrons and became negatively charged and the paper lost electrons and became positively charged.
Opposite charges attract each other.

Static Electricity Experiment Part Two

Now take two balloons and blow them up. Tie the balloons together with about four feet of thread.
Rub the balloons in your hair. It works best if you rub them both at the same time. Get someone to rub one of them in their hair while you rub the other one if necessary. Now hold the balloons by the middle of the thread.
Try not to let the balloons touch anything or they will loose their static charge.

What to Notice

You should see the two balloons push apart. Why?

This is Maisie my daughter and her balloon experiment.

Both of the balloons will pull (scrub off) electrons out of your hair and become negatively charged. Since both balloons have the same charge they push each other away. Like charges repel.

Static Electricity Experiment Part Three

What if you could make cars go using only static electricity. Try this: Charge up a balloon by rubbing it on your hair or a blanket. By this time you may need some fresh hair, so borrow your mom or dad. To keep from discharging the static charge, you may need to hold the balloon with a sheet of paper (use the paper like a glove). You will need a lot of static electricity for this part of the experiment.

Now, lay an aluminum can on a flat hard surface and hold the balloon near the can. Does the can roll toward or away from the balloon? Click here and tell me why you think the can rolls the way it does.

Discoveries

Static electricity is charge at rest. Charge at rest means not moving like trapped on a balloon, or on a comb, or even on your body.
Unlike charges attract.
Like charges repel.

This also helps to explain why electrons in a copper wire are pushed away from the negative terminal of a battery and pulled toward the positive terminal of a battery. But remember when charge (electrons) are in motion we call it current. When charge is at rest we call it static electricity.

At this time you are finished with the safety class and ready to review all the neat things we learned this week. Click "Review" on the menu.

Static Electricity

Atoms, in their natural state, have the same number of protons and electrons. Since electrons and protons have exactly the same amount of charge but of opposite polarity, the charges balance each other out and the atom will have no overall (net) charge.

For example, let's say that Joe gets $5 each week for allowance. That's +5. But if Joe owes Sam $5, that's -5. How much money does Joe have?

Joe has no money! Because +5-5 = 0

Joe has a net worth of $0.

Now let's talk a little electricity! (Charge)

Copper Atom

Protons have positive charge +29

Electrons have negative charge -29

All Total............................ 0

Any atom that has equal numbers of protons and electrons is called a neutral atom because it's over all charge is neutral. Meaning it has no over all or "net" charge.

In order to have an over all charge on an atom, work must be done to add or take away some of it's electrons. Remember that the protons are deep in the nucleus of an atom and cannot be removed or added so we have to work with the electrons if we wish to charge an atom.

If we remove one electron from the above atom, the atom will be left with a positive over all charge.

Protons have positive charge +29

Electrons have negative charge -28 only 28 electrons

All Total............................ +1

If we add one electron to the atom above, the atom will have a negative over all charge.

Protons have positive charge +29

Electrons have negative charge -30

All Total............................ -1

An atom that has lost or gained an electron is called an Ion. Pronounced (eye-on).

An atom that has gained an extra electron is called a negative ion.

An atom that has lost an electron is called a positive ion.

So, What About Static Electricity

Question:

Answer:

Lightning is an example of static electricity in the air. When little ice crystals whirl around in the clouds, they bump into each other and swap electrons back and forth. If enough charge is accumulated in the clouds, look out!

Do you have any interesting lightning stories to tell, I would love to here them. Email me!

Experiment Three

Follow the steps below

Gather the material in the material list for Experiment Three.

Tear off a piece of notebook paper about the size of a quarter.

Touch a comb to the piece of paper. Nothing happens right.

Now take the comb and rub the paper with it.

After rubbing the paper with the comb, pick up the comb. What happened?

Having trouble?

If the paper does not stick to the comb, try some different paper. Some paper has a static coating on it.

Still doesn't stick, try a different comb.

Try washing your comb to remove any natural oil off of it and try again when it is completely dry.

What to Notice

You should have noticed that before you rubbed the paper and comb together, they did not stick to each other. Why? Both the comb and the paper are made of balanced atoms.

When work is done (rubbing) the electrons on the paper were scrubbed off onto the comb. This means that the comb gained electrons and became negatively charged and the paper lost electrons and became positively charged.

Opposite charges attract each other.

Static Electricity Experiment Part Two

Now take two balloons and blow them up. Tie the balloons together with about four feet of thread.

Rub the balloons in your hair. It works best if you rub them both at the same time. Get someone to rub one of them in their hair while you rub the other one if necessary. Now hold the balloons by the middle of the thread.

Try not to let the balloons touch anything or they will loose their static charge.

What to Notice

You should see the two balloons push apart. Why?

This is Maisie my daughter and her balloon experiment.

Both of the balloons will pull (scrub off) electrons out of your hair and become negatively charged. Since both balloons have the same charge they push each other away. Like charges repel.

Static Electricity Experiment Part Three

Now, lay an aluminum can on a flat hard surface and hold the balloon near the can. Does the can roll toward or away from the balloon? Click here and tell me why you think the can rolls the way it does.

Discoveries

Static electricity is charge at rest. Charge at rest means not moving like trapped on a balloon, or on a comb, or even on your body.

Unlike charges attract.

Like charges repel.

This also helps to explain why electrons in a copper wire are pushed away from the negative terminal of a battery and pulled toward the positive terminal of a battery. But remember when charge (electrons) are in motion we call it current. When charge is at rest we call it static electricity.

At this time you are finished with the safety class and ready to review all the neat things we learned this week. Click "Review" on the menu.