Electricity – The Basics

2 Minute Drill

ELECTRICITY is…

Electricity – The Basics

Atoms are made of charged particles

called protons (+), neutrons (neutral),

and electrons (-).

The negative electrons orbit the nucleus

of the atom and can travel from one

atom to another.

Electrical energy is the energy of

moving electrons.

Electrical energy can be converted

into other forms of energy such as:

A force is a push or pull.

A force is required to make

something move

ATOMS FORMS OF ENERGY and ENERGY

TRANSFORMATIONS

FORCES

Electricity and Magnetism

Electricity – The Basics

• All matter is made of

atoms.

• Atoms are made of:

– Protons (+)

– Neutrons (neutral)

– Electrons (-)

• Protons and electrons

are charged objects

that exert a force on

other charged objects.

Electricity – The Basics

• Law of Electric Charges

– Opposite charges attract and like charges repel

Electricity – The Basics

• Objects become charged

because atoms gain or

lose electrons.

– If an atom loses electrons it

becomes…

• Positively charged!

– If an atom gains electrons,

it becomes…

• Negatively charged!

Electricity – The Basics

• Ways to change the charge:

– Friction – Rubbing 2 objects together can cause

electrons to be “wiped” from one object and

transferred to another.

– Conduction – Electrons are transferred

between objects that are touching.

– Induction – Charges are rearranged without

direct contact (not touching).

https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/balloons

Static Electricity

• Static electricity is the build up of

charges on an object.

– Static = not moving

– Charges stay “stuck to” objects

– Loss of static electricity is called an electric

discharge

• Can be slow, like when static-y clothes slowly lose

their charge…

• …or it can be quick…

https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/travoltage

Electric Discharge

Shocking Demonstrations:

An Electrical ExplorationCopy the table below in your composition book.

Observations Explanations

Write or draw what you observe here. Try to use the words attractand repel when describing or labeling your observations.

•Demo 1 – Shocked!

•Demo 2 – Wigged

•Demo 3 – Pie Plates

•Demo 4 – Fluffy

•Demo 5 - Enlightening

Use your notes to find information that will help you explain what caused your observations.

Consider how attraction and repulsion are affected by same or opposite charges.

Van de GraafF Generator

Summary Questions

1. State the Law of Electric Charges.

2. What happens to the charge of an object that gains

electrons?

3. Describe how an object is charged by friction.

4. Compare and contrast charging by conduction and

induction.

5. How is the shock you receive from a metal doorknob

similar to a bolt of lightning?

Static vs. Current Electricity

Static Electricity Current Electricity

EQ: What are the similarities and differences between static and

current electricity?

What does an electric current

move (flow) through? Circuit