SNC 1P1 – Static Electricity

1. SNC 1P1 – Static Electricity What is Static Electricity? Atomic Structure and Electric Charge All matter is made up of atoms. Atoms consist of positively charged protons, negatively charged electrons, and neutral neutrons. According to the Bohr-Rutherford model of the atom, protons and neutrons are located in the nucleus or center of the atom. Protons repel each other (push away) Electrons repel each other. Protons and electrons attract each other – this is called electric force. Objects with an electric force have electric charges.

3. When atoms have the same number of protons and electrons they have equal numbers of positive and negative charges and they are neutral. • If the numbers of protons and electrons are not balanced the atom has an electric charge. • If an object has more electrons than protons it has a negative charge - we say it is a negative ion. • If an object has more protons than electrons it has a positive charge – we say it is a positive ion.

5. The Law of Electric Charges • Chargedobjects exert forces on each other these forces can either attract objects or repel objects. • These observations are called the Law of Electric Charges. • Objects that have opposite charges attract each other. Negative attracts positive and positive attracts negative. • 2) Objects that have the same charges repel each other. Negative repels negative and positive repels positive. • “ Opposites attract and like repels like.”

6. The strength of the force between charged objects is related to the distance between the objects and the amount of charge on each object. • The electric force decreases as the distance between the objects increases. • The electric force increases as the electric charge increases. Homework: Page 463 #1 - 6