Static Electricity: Charge Transfer and Atomic Structure

static electricity

1. static electricity is caused by the transfer of charge.

   • Atoms are made up of protons, neutrons and electrons each with its own properties.
     • Protons have a positive (+) charge. Electrons have a negative (-) charge. Neutrons are neutral (no charge).
     • The positive charges are in the nucleus of the atom. The negative charges are spread in orbit around the nucleus.
       • The protons and neutrons are held tightly in the nucleus.
       • Some of the electrons are held very loosely and can move from one atom to the other.
       • If an atom looses electrons the number of proton exceeds the number of electrons and the atom is positively charged.
         • If an atom gains an electron the number of protons is lesser than the number of electrons and the atom is negatively charged.
           • One method in which electrons can be moved or transferred is by rubbing two insulators together.
             • Rubbing causes more friction between the two surfaces increasing the surface contact and allowing more electrons to be transferred.
               • The object which looses electrons becomes positively charged and the one that gains the electron becomes negatively charged.
                 • Therefore, static electricity is the imbalance of positive and negative charge.