▪ The study of static electricity and its causes and effects

▪ The study of electric charges at rest

▪ Ancient Greeks noted that amber, a product of tree
resin, is able to pull small pieces of material towards it
when rubbed
▪ This action is where the word electricity came from
▪ The Greek word elektron means “amber”
▪ Thales, a Greek philosopher, is one of the people
credited for this discovery
▪ Three possible meanings
1. A particle
2. An amount
3. A process
Meaning charges are bodies

Example:
An ion is a charged body. It has a particular
kind of charge too.
A cation is an ion with a positive charge.
An anion has a negative charge.
Even protons and electrons are charged bodies.
▪ Early experiments with materials show that
sometimes objects are drawn to the
material and sometimes the objects are
pushed away.
▪ Law of Electrostatics states that like charges
repel and unlike charges attract.
The amount of electric charge an object has is measured in terms of Coulomb
(C), where
1𝐶 = 6.25 × 1018 electrons
and
1 electron = −1.60 × 10−19 𝐶

Coulomb – basic charge of an electron

Why electron?
Electrons are easier to transfer and take away from the atom, causing the
particle to be charged. As long as the number of electrons and protons are the
same, the charge of the atom is neutral.
How do we determine the charge of an atom?
If an atom or an object loses electrons, it becomes positively charged
since there are more protons than electrons. Conversely, of an atom or an
object gains electrons, the object becomes negatively charged.

Example:
1. If electrons are transferred from Object A to Object B, what is the charge
of Object A? of Object B?
a. Since Object A lost electrons, it will become positively charged.
b. Since Object B gained electrons, it will become negatively charged.
▪ Induction
▪ Conduction
▪ By rubbing or Friction
▪ There is no contact with the object that caused the motion of charges and
the object affected by the charged body
▪ The contact between the two bodies is allowed, the charges move freely
between them.
Transferring electric charge
a. Conductors: e¯ move easily.
b. Insulators: hold e¯ tightly.

Insulators- any material that does not allow electric current to pass through it
Conductors – any material that allows electric current to pass through it
Aluminum Conductor

Copper/Silver Conductor

Cotton Insulator

Glass Insulator

Paper Insulator

Rubber Insulator

Silk Insulator

Steel conductor

Wood Insulator

Wool Insulator
Atoms like to have their valence ring either filled (8) or empty(0) of
electrons.

Copper How many electrons are in

Cu the valence orbit? 1
29
Is copper a conductor or
insulator? Conductor
Why?
 Sulfur

S
16

How many electrons are in the valence orbit?

6
Is Sulfur a conductor or insulator?
Insulator
Why?
An electron from one orbit can knock out an electron from another orbit.

When an atom loses an

electron, it seeks another to
fill the vacancy.

Copper

Cu
29
Electricity is created as electrons collide and transfer from atom to
atom.

Play Animation
Electrostatic Force
• When two charged objects are brought
near each other, a force exists between
the particles
Coulomb’s Law
• The law that allows us to predict the
strength of the force. They grow weaker
as they are set farther apart and
stronger as they draw near. It is
expressed as
𝑘(𝑞1 𝑞2 )
𝐹𝑒 =
𝑟2
Two 40 gram masses each with a charge of 3μC are placed 50cm apart. Find the
electric force between the two masses.

3μC 3μC
40g 40g

50cm
1. The force of attraction between a charge of 3.5 × 10−5 𝐶 and a
charge of −2.4 × 10−5 𝐶 is −7.5 × 103 𝑁. What is the distance
between the two charges?
2. The distance between two charges is 1.35 × 10−3 𝑚. The force of
repulsion between them is 2.5 × 102 𝑁. Determine the magnitude of
two identical charges.