THAKUR INSTITUTE OF AVIATION TECHNOLOGY

TRAINING NOTES FEB 2018

FORWORD
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 IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE INFORMATION IN THIS BOOK IS OF STUDY/ TRAINING PURPOSES ONLY
AND NO REVISION SERVICE WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE HOLDER.
 WHEN CARRYING OUT APROCEDURE/ WORK ONAIRCRAFT/ AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT YOU MUSTALWAYS
REFER TOTHERELEVANT AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE MANUAL OREQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER'S
HANDBOOK.
 FOR HEALTH ANDSAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE YOU SHOULD FOLLOW THE REGULATIONS/ GUIDELINES AS
SPECIFIED BYTHE EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER, YOUR COMPANY, NATIONAL SAFETY AUTHORITIES AND
NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS.

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Thakur Institute of Aviation Technology.

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Knowledge Levels – Category A, B1, B2, B3 and C Aircraft Maintenance Licence

Basic knowledge for categories A, B1, B2 and B3 are indicated by the allocation of knowledge levels indicators (1, 2 or 3) against each
application subject. Category C applicants must meet either the category B1 or the category B2 basic knowledge levels.
The knowledge level indicators are defined as follows:

LEVEL 1
 A familiarization with the principal elements of the subject.
Objectives: The applicant should be familiar with the basic elements of the subject.
 The applicant should be able to give a simple description of the whole subject, using common words and examples.
 The applicant should be able to use typical terms.

LEVEL 2
 A general knowledge of the theoretical and practical aspects of the subject.
 An ability to apply that knowledge.
Objectives: The applicant should be able to understand the theoretical fundamentals of the subject.
 The applicant should be able to give a general description of the subject using, as appropriate, typical examples.
 The applicant should be able to use mathematical formulae in conjunction with physical laws describing the subject.
 The applicant should be able to read and understand sketches, drawings and schematics describing the subject.
 The applicant should be able to apply his knowledge in a practical manner using detailed procedures.

LEVEL 3
 A detailed knowledge of the theoretical and practical aspects of the subject.
 A capacity to combine and apply the separate elements of knowledge in a logical and comprehensive manner.
Objectives: The applicant should know the theory of the subject and interrelationships with other subjects.
 The applicant should be able to give a detailed description of the subject using theoretical fundamentals and specific examples.
 The applicant should understand and be able to use mathematical formulae related to the subject.
 The applicant should be able to read, understand and prepare sketches, simple drawings and schematics describing the subject.
 The applicant should be able to apply his knowledge in a practical manner using manufacturer’s instructions.
 The applicant should be able to interpret results from various sources and measurements and apply corrective action where
appropriate.

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Module 3.2: Static Electricity and Conduction

Certification Statement
These Study Notes comply with the syllabus of Appendix I-Basic Knowledge Requirement of CAR 66 Regulation (EC) No.2042/2003
Annex (Part-66) Appendix I, as amended by Regulation (EC) No.1149/2011, and the associated Knowledge Levels as specified below:

CAR 66 Level
Objective
Reference A B1 B2 B3
Static Electricity and Conduction 3.2 1 2 2 1
 Static electricity and distribution of electrostatic charges;
 Electrostatic laws of attraction and repulsion;
 Units of charge, Coulomb's Law;
 Conduction of electricity in solids, liquids, gases and a vacuum.

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Module 3.2: Static Electricity and Conduction
Static Electricity
Electricity is often described as being either static or dynamic. The
difference between the two is based simply on whether the electrons
are at rest (static) or in motion (dynamic). Static electricity is a
build-up of an electrical charge on the surface of an object. It is
considered “static” due to the fact that there is no current flowing as
in AC or DC electricity. Static electricity is usually caused when
non-conductive material such as rubber, plastic or glass are rubbed
together, causing a transfer of electrons, which then results in an
imbalance of charges between the two materials. The fact that there
is an imbalance of charges between the two materials means that the
objects will exhibit an attractive or repulsive force.
The Coulomb Unit of Electric Charge
If you rub a hard rubber pen or comb on a sheet of paper, the rubber
will attract a corner of the paper if it is free to move easily. The
paper and rubber then give evidence of a static electric charge. The
work of rubbing resulted in separating electrons and protons to
produce a charge of excess electrons on the surface of the rubber
and a charge of excess protons on the paper.
Because paper and rubber are dielectric materials, they hold their
extra electrons or protons. As a result, the paper and rubber are no
longer neutral, but each has an electric charge. The resultant electric
charges provide the force of attraction between the rubber and the
paper. This mechanical force of attraction or repulsion between
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charges is the fundamental method by which electricity makes itself
evident.
Any charge is an example of static electricity because the electrons
or protons are not in motion. There are many examples. When you
walk across a wool rug, your body becomes charged with an excess
of electrons. Similarly, silk, fur, and glass can be rubbed to produce
a static charge. This effect is more evident in dry weather, because a
moist dielectric does not hold its charge so well. Also, plastic
materials can be charged easily, which is why thin, lightweight
plastics seem to stick to everything.
The charge of many billions of electrons or protons is necessary for
common applications of electricity. Therefore, it is convenient to
define a practical unit called the coulomb (C) as equal to the charge
of 6.25 X 1018 electrons or protons stored in a dielectric (Fig. 2–1).
The analysis of static charges and their forces is called
electrostatics.
The symbol for electric charge is Q or q, standing for quantity. For
instance, a charge of 6.25 X 1018 electrons is stated as Q = 1 C. This
unit is named after Charles A. Coulomb (1736–1806), a French
physicist, who measured the force between charges.
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Figure 2–1 the coulomb (C) unit of electric charge. (a) Quantity of
6.25 X 1018 excess electrons for a negative charge of 1 C. (b) Same
amount of protons for a positive charge of 1 C, caused by removing
electrons from neutral atoms.
Negative and Positive Polarities
Historically, negative polarity has been assigned to the static charge
produced on rubber, amber, and resinous materials in general.
Positive polarity refers to the static charge produced on glass and
other vitreous materials. On this basis, the electrons in all atoms are
basic particles of negative charge because their polarity is the same
as the charge on rubber. Protons have positive charge because the
polarity is the same as the charge on glass.
Charges of Opposite Polarity Attract
If two small charged bodies of light weight are mounted so that they
are free to move easily and are placed close to each other, one can
be attracted to the other when the two charges have opposite polarity
(Fig. 2–2 a ). In terms of electrons and protons, they tend to be
attracted to each other by the force of attraction between opposite
charges. Furthermore, the weight of an electron is only about 1⁄1840
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the weight of a proton. As a result, the force of attraction tends to
make electrons move to protons.
Figure 2–2 Physical force between electric charges. (a) Opposite
charges attract. (b) Two negative charges repel each other. (c) Two
positive charges repel.
Charges of the Same Polarity Repel
In Fig. 2–2 b and c, it is shown that when the two bodies have an
equal amount of charge with the same polarity, they repel each
other. The two negative charges repel in Fig. 2–2 b, and two positive
charges of the same value repel each other in Fig. 2–2 c.
Polarity of a Charge
An electric charge must have either negative or positive polarity,
labelled -Q or +Q, with an excess of either electrons or protons. A
neutral condition is considered zero charge. On this basis, consider
the following examples, remembering that the electron is the basic
particle of charge and the proton has exactly the same amount,
although of opposite polarity. Note that we generally consider that
the electrons move, rather than heavier protons.
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However, a loss of a given number of electrons is equivalent to a

gain of the same number of protons.

Charge of an Electron

The charge of a single electron, designated Qe, is 0.16 X 10 -18 C.

This value is the reciprocal of 6.25 X 1018 electrons which is the
number of electrons in 1 coulomb of charge. Expressed
mathematically,

- Qe = 0.16 X 10-18 C

(-Qe denotes that the charge of the electron is negative.)

It is important to note that the charge of a single proton, designated
Qp, is also equal to 0.16 X 10-18 C. However, its polarity is positive
instead of negative.
The Electric Field of a Static Charge
The ability of an electric charge to attract or repel another charge is
a physical force. To help visualize this effect, lines of force are used,
as shown in Fig. 2–3. All the lines form the electric field. The lines
and the field are imaginary, since they cannot be seen. Just as the
field of the force of gravity is not visible, however, the resulting
physical effects prove that the field is there.
Figure 2–3 Arrows to indicate electric field around a stationary
charge Q.
Each line of force in Fig. 2–3 is directed outward to indicate
repulsion of another charge in the field with the same polarity as Q,
either positive or negative. The lines are shorter farther away from
Q to indicate that the force decreases inversely as the square of the
distance. The larger the charge, the greater the force. These relations
describe Coulomb’s law of electrostatics.
Conduction of Electricity in Solids, Liquids and a Vacuum
Solids

Electric current is the movement of valence electrons. Conduction is

the name of this process. Only metals conduct electricity. Some
conduct better than others. The exception to this is graphite, (one of
the forms of the element carbon). Carbon is a non metal which
exhibits some electrical conductivity.

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Liquids
The only liquid elements which conduct are the liquid metals. At
room temperature liquid mercury is a conductor. Other metals
continue to conduct electricity when they are melted. Non – metals
such as water, alcohol, ethanoic acid, propanone, hexane and so on,
are all non-conductors of electricity.
However it is possible to make some non-conducting liquids
conduct electricity, by a process called ionization. Ionized
substances are called ionic substances.
Ionic substance is made of charged particles- positive and negative
ions. In the solid state they are held very firmly in place in a lattice
structure. In the solid state the ions cannot move about at all. When
the ionic solid is melted, the bonds holding the ions in place in the
lattice are broken. The ions can then move around freely.
When an electric current is applied to an ionic melt the electricity is
carried by the ions that are now able to move. In an ionic melt the
electric current is a flow of ions.
Taking water as an example. Remember firstly, that water is
considered to be a non–conductor of electricity. It can allow some
electricity through it if a high voltage is applied to it. This is due to
the presence of a minute concentration oh H+ and OH- ions in the
water. However, electrons cannot flow through water.
Covalent substances do not conduct at all in solution.
Ionic substance is able to conduct electricity when they are
dissolved in water.
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The reason lies again in the fact that ionic substances are made of
charged particles Ions. When the ionic solid is dissolved in water the
ionic breaks up and the ions become free to move around the water.
When you pass electricity through the ionic solution, the ions are
able to carry the electric current because of their ability to move
freely. A solution conducts by means of freely moving ions.
An electrolyte is a liquid which can carry an electric current through
it. Ionic solute ions and ionic melts are all electrolytes.
Electrolysis describes the process which takes place when an ionic
solution or melt has electricity passed through it.
Gases
A gas in its normal state is one of the best insulators known,
however, in similar way as; liquid, it can be forced to conduct
electricity by ionization of the gas molecules. Ionisation of the gas
molecules can be effected by extremely high voltages. For examples
lightning, is electric current flowing through an ionized path through
air due to the huge electrical potential difference between the storm
cloud and the ground.
In air and other ordinary gases, the dominant source of electrical
conduction is via a relatively small number of mobile light, or
cosmic rays. Since the electrical conductivity is extremely low,
gases are dielectrics or insulators. However once the applied electric
field approaches the breakdown value, free electrons become
sufficiently accelerated by the electric field to create additional free
atoms or molecules in a process called avalanche breakdown. The
breakdown process forms plasma that contains a significant number
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of mobile electrons and positive ions, causing it to behave as an
electrical conductor. In the process it forms a light emitting
conductive path, such as a spark arc or lighting.
Plasma is the state of matter where some of the electrons in a gas are
stripped or “ionized” from their molecules or atoms. Plasma can be
formed by high temperature, or by application of a high electric or
alternating magnetic field as noted above. Due to their lower mass,
the electrons in plasma accelerate more quickly in response to an
electric field than the heavier positive ions, and hence carry the bulk
of the current.
Vacuum
particles thereby sustaining the arc. At sufficiently high currents an
incandescent anode spot may also be formed.
Electrical discharge in vacuum is important for certain types of
vacuum tubes and for high voltage vacuum switches.
Summary
 Charges of opposite polarity attract, and charges of like
polarity repel.
 One coulomb (C) of charge is a quantity of electricity
corresponding to 6.25 X 1018 electrons or protons. The
symbol for charge is Q.

It is a common belief that electricity cannot flow through a vacuum.

This is however incorrect. Remember that a conductor is
“something through which electricity can flow,” rather than
“something which contains movable electricity.” A vacuum offers
no blockage to moving charges. Should electrons be injected into a
vacuum, the electrons will flow uninhibited and unretarded. As
such, a vacuum is an ideal conductor.

This fact is taken advantage of in many situations, from television to

vacuum valves. A vacuum arc can arise when the surfaces of metal
electrodes in contact with a goof vacuum begin to emit electrons
either through heating or via an electric field that is sufficient to
cause fields emission. Once initiated a vacuum arc can persists since
the freed particles gain kinetic energy from the electric field, heating
the metal surfaces through high speed particle collisions. This
process can create an incandescent cathode spot which frees more

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1. The coulomb is a unit of a

a. electric charge.
b. potential difference.
c. current.
d. voltage.

2. Which of the following statements is true?

a. Unlike charges repel each other.
b. Like charges repel each other.
c. Unlike charges attract each other.
d. Both b and c.

3. A neutral dielectric has added to it 1.25 X 1018 electrons.

What is its charge in coulombs?
a. 1C
b. 2C
c. 3C
d. 4C

4. A dielectric with +Q of 2C has 12.5 X 1018 electrons added.

What is its charge then?
a. 0C
b. 1C
c. 2C
d. 3C

Reference: Name of book:- 1) EHJ PALLET,

2) EISMIN,
3) FAA 9A.

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