Static Electricity: Objects are made of atoms and molecules. Within the atom, electrons have a negative charge. Most objects have equal numbers of electrons and protons, hence they have no charge or neutral charge. When an object gains or loses electrons it becomes "charged". Gaining electrons gives it a negative charge. If an object has a charge, it attracts articles with the opposite charge and repels things with the same charge. This attraction or repulsion is called 'electrical force". Charged objects have potential electric energy called 'static electricity". It is called static electricity because the electrons are not moving as they do in an electric current.

-Negative Charge

+Positive Charge

	-Negative Charge	-Negative Charge
	+Positive Charge	+Positive Charge

Like Charges Repel

 

 

To learn more about static electricity and to try some really interesting activities, I invite you to visit the following websites:

http://www.mos.org/sln/toe/staticmenu.html

http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/static.html

 

 

 

Web design: J. Fisher

 

Your clothes become charged by rubbing against each other as they tumble around in a dryer. Electrons are rubbed off some items and unto others. Items that lose electrons cling to items that gain electrons. Because your clothing is an insulator, charges stay on each piece of clothing , creating static electricity. Try dragging your feet across a rug and then touching a doorknob. You know what will happen. You rub electrons off your shoes thus becoming charged. When you reach for the doorknob you attract the electrons in the knob causing them to jump to your hand. The movement or flow of electrons is called electric current.

The movement of electrons.

 

Click on the picture above