Lesson 28 Static Electricity

In the 1700s science turned towards the use of electricty after Franklin determined that "charge" is the source of electrical force. French physicist Coulomb found the relation between charge and force where F(electricty) = k(electricty) q1 q2/(r^2) r^

Electrical force is proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the two charges.

F(electricty) = + r^ - repel

F(electricity) = - r^ - negative

The force two charges exert on a third is the vector sum of the forces each alone would exert. In fact, any number of charges, either positive or negative, have a total force of a  vector sum

F = sum( ke qqi/ri^2 r^i)

Electric charge exerts electric force and obeys Coulomb's law of  magnitude and sign of the electrostatic force between two idealized point charges.

Electricity resides in matter, solids, liquids, and gasses of the universe. Matter is electrical in nature as it is held together by the interaction between positive and negative forces.

Electricity is a fluid comprised of atoms held together by positive and negative charges.

At the core of every atom is a nucleus containing protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons and electrons create a balance net electrical force that is neutral.

Ions are atoms that contain either too many protons or too many electrons.

Metals exhibit the properties of electricity, are malleable, ductile, and are capable of changing shape without breaking. Metals also have properties of luster and conducivity.

On an insulator, an electric charge stays where it is located. However, with a conductor the charge spreads throughout an object. This is because metals can be thought of as positive ions with loosely bound electrons. When two metallic ions are next to each other the electrons can pass easily from one ion to the next. The mobile electrons are known as conductor electrons and give metals their properties.

The Van de Graff generator is an electrostatic generator that uses a moving belt to create high voltage. However, the voltage of the generator may be larger than the voltage of lightning created by friction between ice particles in clowds, but due to capacitance, lighting is extremely destructive.

Electricity was first discovered through the use of Leyden jars or primative batteries. The electric capabilities of modern bateries are hundreds of thousads stronger than that those of Leyden jars.


Electricity resides in matter, solids, liquids, and gasses of the universe