Static Electricity 2

Static Electricity - Part 2

Objectives:

Static Electricity.

It hurts.

• Know that there are two types of charges – positive and negative.

• Be able to state which combinations of charges will attract, and which will repel.

• Be able to explain what is meant by positively charged, negatively charged, and neutral.

Task 1 - Starter

Think hard!

Looking good!

Find someone who knows:

1) What is a conductor?

2) What is an insulator?

3) How can we charge an insulator?

4) Can you explain how static shocks occur?

Your teacher will tell you which questions to discuss.

Task 2 - Two types of charge

Hands up!

I know the answer!

There are two types of charges - positive and negative. Your teacher will show you some demonstrations to illustrate:

• Which combinations of charges attract.

• Which combinations of charges repel.

• Which type of charge is light and easy to transfer.

• What is meant by the terms positively charged, negatively charged, and neutral (uncharged).

Simulation

The simulation below shows how a balloon can be charged with static electricity.

Rub the balloon on the jumper. What happens? How do the charged objects affect each other?

Thanks to PhET for this awesome simulation :)

HTML5 technology! Woop Woop!

Click to Run

Browser doesn't support HTML5?

Use the Java version instead! :)

Attention!

Check compatibility.

Note: The embedded version of this applet (above) may not work with Internet Explorer. Click the image below to load the simulation instead or use an alternative browser.

Click to Run

	Task 3 - Explaining your ideas
	Charge that balloon!		Draw a series of diagrams, showing how a balloon can become "charged up" by rubbing it on a jumper, and how the transfer of charges leads to the two objects attracting. Write a detailed caption by each diagram. When you have finished, complete the text below by filling in the missing words.

1) The two types of charge are ___________ and __________.

2) __________ charges are much smaller and lighter than _________ charges.

3) Charges can be transferred between insulators by _________.

4) If an object has _________ numbers of ________ and _______ charges it is 'uncharged' or 'neutral'.

5) An object with an ________ of positive charges is 'positively charged', and an object with an excess of ________ charges is negatively ________.

6) Opposite charges __________ and like charges ___________.

Now complete the table:

Combination of charges	Attract or repel?
positive and positive
negative and negative
positive and negative

These tasks are available here as a worksheet, in word document format.

	Task 4 - Practical
	4 Charged up!		Charge a polythene rod or balloon, using a cloth. Try placing your charged rod or balloon near to: • An aluminium can. • A gentle stream of water. • Very small pieces of paper. • The wall of the science lab (use a balloon!)
	Hands up!		How can a charged object attract a neutral object? Discuss in pairs how you think this can happen. Your teacher may ask some of you to share your ideas with the class.

Task 5 - Plenary

Electrostatic levitation!

Your teacher will show you how to use static electricity to make things levitate, by demonstrating either a Magic Fun Fly Stick or a Wanderama.

Homework video

The video below shows you how to make your own static flyer, using items from around your home!

How to make a static flyer :)

Homework task

A static flyer in action!

Try making a static flyer, by following the instructions in the video*.

Write a paragraph to explain how the static flyer works, and draw a diagram to illustrate your ideas.

You could bring in a picture or video of your static flyer in action, to show your teacher and classmates.

Video can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdA6zgLHPws

The homework task will be available here as a word document, at some point...