Science G9
Principles & Applications of Electricity
Class 9
Agenda
1. Take up Class 7 HW
2. Quiz 9
3. Lesson 9
• Law of Electric Charges
• Static Electricity
• Charging by Friction, Conduction, Induction
• Electroscopes
• Applications of Static Electricity
• Conductors and Insulators
• Electric Discharge
1
Revisiting the Atom
• Atoms contain subatomic particles like
protons, neutrons, and electrons
• If the number of protons equals the
number of electrons, the atom is neutral
• If the atom has an imbalance of charges, it
Lithium atom (Li) has no charge because
it has 3 protons and 3 electrons. is an ion and has an electric charge
• Macroscopic objects are made of billions of
atoms
• (+) will be used to represent a large
number of positive charges
Lithium ion (Li+) has a net positive charge
• (−) will be used to represent a large
because it has 3 protons and 2 electrons. number of negative charges
Electric Charge
Law of Electric Charges
Like charges repel
Opposite charges attract
• Electric charge is a form of
charge, either positive or
negative that exerts an
electrostatic force
• Objects become charged when
electrons are transferred Coulomb’s Law:
• Electrostatic force is the force 𝑘 𝑞1 𝑞2
exerted by an object with an 𝐹=
electric charge; can be a force of 𝑟2
attraction or a force of repulsion Where k is Coulomb’s constant
q1 and q2 are point charges
r is the distance between q1 and q2
2
Static Electricity
• Static electricity is an imbalance
of electric charge on the surface
of an object
• Methods to charge an object:
• Charging by friction
• Charging by conduction (contact)
• Charging by induction
• Charging by Friction is the transfer of
electrons between two neutral objects
(made from different materials) that
occurs when they are rubbed together
or when they come in contact
• Electrostatic series or triboelectric series
is a list of materials arranged based on
their tendency to gain electrons
• Materials near the bottom have a
tendency to gain electrons; become
negatively-charged
• Materials near the top have a tendency
to lose electrons; become positively- Electrostatic series (triboelectric
charged series) of some common materials.
3
Checkpoint
You rub the following materials
together. Deduce the charge that each
material now has.
a) Rubber balloon and hair
b) Wool and skin
c) Paper and amber
Checkpoint
You notice that objects become charged easily in
the winter when the air is dry than in the summer
when the air is humid. Why do you think this
occurs?
4
• Charging by Conduction is the transfer of
electrons between a charged object to another
object (charged or neutral) through contact
Electrons always move
A negatively charged Electrons from the bar from the object with a
bar touches a neutral are transferred to the larger negative charge
metal sphere. sphere until both to the object with the
objects have the same smaller negative charge
charge.
Checkpoint
If the following rods touch, how will the electrons
move?
Rod A Rod B
+ - + + - + - +
+ + - + - + - +
5
• Grounding is connecting an object to a
large body, like Earth, that is capable
of removing an electric charge from
an object
• Earth is so large that any excess charge Symbol for grounding
is spread over a large area and is
effectively neutralized
+ - - - - + - -
+ + - -
- + + -
When a positively-charged object is When a negatively-charged object is
grounded, electrons from the ground grounded, electrons from the object travel
travel up to neutralize the object. into the ground to neutralize the object.
• Charging by Induction is the shifting of electrons in
a neutral object when a charged object is brought
close to it
• Can lead to a temporary charge or a permanent charge
Charging by Induction (Temporary)
2) The positive charges on the
1) A positively- glass rod attract the negative
charged glass rod charges causing the sphere to
is brought near a become temporarily charged
neutral sphere. by induction.
3) Once the glass rod is
removed, the charges
on the sphere return
to normal.
6
Charging by Induction (Permanent) Charging by Induction (Permanent)
via separation via grounding
+
+
+
+ +
+
Electroscopes
Pith-Ball Electroscope Metal Leaf Electroscope
1) Pith ball is neutral. 1) Metal “leaves” hang in a
neutral position.
2) When a charged object is
brought close to the pith 2) When a charged object
ball, the pith ball becomes makes contact at the top
attracted to the charged of the electroscope, the
object due to a shift of leaves repel and spread
electrons. apart.
7
Checkpoint
What would happen to
the metal leaves if:
a) A negatively-
charged rod is
brought close to the
electroscope. Show
the distribution of
charges.
BEFORE AFTER
Checkpoint
What would happen to
the metal leaves if:
b) A negatively-charged
rod is brought close
to the electroscope
and then removed.
Show the distribution
of charges.
BEFORE AFTER
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Checkpoint
What would happen to
the metal leaves if:
c) A negatively-charged
rod touches the
electroscope and is
then removed. Show
the distribution of
charges.
BEFORE AFTER
Checkpoint
What would happen to
the metal leaves if:
d) A negatively-charged
rod is brought close to
the electroscope, you
touch the
electroscope, then
remove your finger
and then the rod.
Show the distribution
of charges.
BEFORE
9
Applications of Static Electricity
• Electrostatic paint sprayers use static
electricity to apply an even coat of
paint on curved objects
• Paint is charged as it exits the nozzle
and the object to be painted is given
the opposite charge
• Dusters attract dust by using a
material like animal hair that have a
tendency to become charged when
rubbed against a surface
• Electrostatic precipitators filters
particles from smokestack
emissions
• Ash, dust, and soot are negatively
charged by conduction
• As the particles move up through
the smokestack, they get attracted
to the positive plate
• Particles fall back into a collection
plate to be disposed
• Electrostatic lifting apparatus
(ESLA) is used to make a copy of
a footprint at a crime scene
10
Conductors and Insulators
• Conductors are materials • Insulators are materials
that let electrons move that do not easily allow
easily through it (e.g. the movement of
copper, aluminum) electrons through it (e.g.
• Conductors do not hold plastic, wood, glass)
charges
• Insulators are often used
to coat conductors for
electrical safety
Electric Discharge
• Electric discharge is the rapid transfer of electric
charges from the more negatively-charged object to
the less negatively-charged object
• The greater the charge imbalance, the larger and more
noticeable the discharge
11
• Lightning is a dramatic form of
electric discharge
• Air normally acts as an insulator
between the clouds and the ground
• When enough charge builds up, air
loses its ability to insulate the charge
and lightning is produced
• Lightning can occur between cloud to
cloud, or cloud to ground
How come lightning is less frequent during the winter?
During the winter, there is less moisture in the atmosphere and land surface temperature is cooler so flatter clouds form.
Charge imbalances occur more frequently in tall, cumulonimbus clouds.
What is thunder?
The sound of thunder is due to the quick expansion and contraction of the air particles surrounding the lightning bolt. The
rapid expansion and contraction of air creates a loud crack. The rumbling sound is the sound of air vibrating as it cools.
• Avoid open field or areas of
higher elevation
• Stay away from tall, isolated
trees or buildings
• Stay away from water, wet
items, or metal objects since
they are excellent conductors of
electricity
• Avoid electrical equipment (i.e.
computers, TVs)
• Do not unplug equipment during
a thunderstorm
• Do not wash hands, shower, or
wash dishes
12
• Lightning rods are usually made of
a conductive material and provide
a safe path for lightning to travel to
the ground
The CN Tower gets hit by
lightning 75 times a year on
average.
What I Learned Today:
❑ Law of Electric Charges
❑ Charging by Friction
❑ Charging by Conduction
❑ Charging by Induction
❑ Conductors and Insulators
Due next class: Class 9 Homework
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