Electricity 1: Introduction & Static Electricity

An electron is a subatomic particle with a negative charge of electricity Electrons act as the main carrier of electricity in solids.

A subatomic particles with a positive charge of electricity.

A subatomic particles no overall charge.

Area surrounding an electric charge that exerts a force on other charged particles.

e.g. positive + positive or Negative + negative They repel each other.

A positive + a negative charge will attract each other.

When surfaces rub together (producing friction), electrons can be removed from one surface and added to the other. ​ This creates an imbalance in charge. This is called static electricity. ​

A machine that causes friction between a rubber belt and plastic rollers in order to build up electrical charge on a metal dome. A large potential difference is generated.

Lightning is a discharge of electricity. It happens when ice crystals within cloud they crash into each other. Electrons are knocked off of some ice crystals and added to others, this causes the bottom of the cloud to become more negatively charged. Lightning happens when the negative charges (electrons) in the bottom of the cloud are attracted to the positive charges (protons) in the ground.

Current electricity refers to the flow of electrons in an electric circuit from one place to another.

For current to flow in a circuit there must be a power supply and at least one full path (loop) of conducting materials.

Materials which allow charges to move through them easily are called conductors?

Metals. Some common conductors are copper, aluminium, gold, and silver,

An electrical insulator is a material in which electric current does not flow freely

Some common electrical insulators are glass, air, plastic, rubber, and wood.