ELECTROSTATICS

Electrostatics is the study of static electrical charges.

There are two types of electrical charges :
a) positive (+)
b) negative (-)
When two materials are rubbed against one another, the friction that acts between
the materials causes one of materials to become positively charge and the other to
become negatively charged
Charging by Friction.
An object with the same number of positive and negative charges is said to be
NEUTRAL.
If an object has more electrons than protons , it will be negatively charged.
If an object has fewer electrons than protons , it will be positively charged.
This method of charging an object is called charging by friction.
Atom is made up of :
a) electron (negatively charge)- outside
b) proton ( positive charge) inside nucleus
c) neutron (no charges) inside nucleus

Material which have an equal number of positive and negative charges are
classified as neutral or not charged.
When two different materials rub against one another, negative electrical charges
or electron are transferred from one material to another material.
The material which gains negative charges becomes negatively charged, while the
material which loses its negative charges becomes positively charged.

Detecting Static Electrical Charges by using a Gold Leaf Electroscope

Electroscope is used to detect the electrical charges.

The steps in the use of an electroscope :
a) Bring the object under test close to a metal
cap of a neutral electroscope.
b) If the gold leaf is deflected , the object is
charged.
c) If the gold leaf is not deflected, the object is
neutral or not charged.
EVERYDAY PHENOMENA RELATED TO STATIC ELECTRICAL CHARGES
LIGHTNING
- As the clouds rub against the air, they are charged by
friction.
- Positive charges gather at the top while negative charges at
the bottom.
- When the charged clouds move closer to the surface of the

earth, their negative charges will attract positive charges at

the surface of the earth and buildings.
- Strong electrostatics forces act between the unlike charges
causing them to move quickly towards one another and
releases a lot of energy in the form of flashes of light
commonly known as lightning.
LIGHTNING CONDUCTOR
To reduce the risk of a building being struck by lightning.
Its are fitted at the highest point of the building and connected by thick metal strip
directly to the ground .
When lightning strikes a building, it will hit the lightning conductor and its
negative electrical charges will flow directly into the earth through the metal strip
without causing any damage to the building
OIL TANKER
When moves, its body is charged by friction.
As the amount of static electrical charges on the body of the oil tanker increases, a
strong electrostatic forces causes a rapid flow of static electrical charges that
produces sparks.
Sparks can ignite inflammable oil vapour to cause an explosion
To reduce electrical charges, a tanker has a metal chain which will flow the
charges to the ground without causing any sparks.

ELECTROSTATICS
Electrostatics is the study of ..
There are two types of electrical charges :
a) ..
b)
When two materials are rubbed against one another, the friction that acts between
the materials causes one of materials to become charge and the other
to become . charged.
Charging by Friction.
Material which have an equal number of positive and negative charges are
classified as neutral or not charged.
When two different materials rub against one another, negative electrical charges
or electron are transferred from one material to another material.
The material which gains negative charges becomes negatively charged, while the
material which loses its negative charges becomes positively charged.

Detecting Static Electrical Charges by using a Gold Leaf Electroscope

 Electroscope is used to detect the electrical charges.

The steps in the use of an electroscope :
a) Bring the object under test close to a metal
cap of a neutral electroscope.
b) If the gold leaf is deflected , the object is
charged.
c) If the gold leaf is not deflected, the object is
neutral or not charged.
EVERYDAY PHENOMENA RELATED TO STATIC ELECTRICAL CHARGES
LIGHTNING
- As the clouds rub against the air, they are charged by
friction.
- Positive charges gather at the top while negative charges at
the bottom.
- When the charged clouds move closer to the surface of the
earth, their negative charges will attract positive charges at
the surface of the earth and buildings.
- Strong electrostatics forces act between the unlike charges
causing them to move quickly towards one another and
releases a lot of energy in the form of flashes of light
commonly known as lightning.

LIGHTNING CONDUCTOR
To reduce the risk of a building being struck by lightning.
Its are fitted at the highest point of the building and connected by thick metal strip
directly to the ground .
When lightning strikes a building, it will hit the lightning conductor and its
negative electrical charges will flow directly into the earth through the metal strip
without causing any damage to the building
OIL TANKER
When moves, its body is charged by friction.
As the amount of static electrical charges on the body of the oil tanker increases, a
strong electrostatic forces causes a rapid flow of static electrical charges that
produces sparks.
Sparks can ignite inflammable oil vapour to cause an explosion
To reduce electrical charges, a tanker has a metal chain which will flow the
charges to the ground without causing any sparks.