CHAPTER 7 :

ELECTRICITY AND
MAGNETISM

7.1 Electrostatics

By the end of this class, a student is

able to:

Describe what electrostatics is

State the types of static electrical charges
and their properties
Describe how static electrical charges can be
produced in some materials
Explain everyday phenomena caused by
static electrical charges

Electrostatics
Electrostatics is the study of static electrical
charges.
There are two types of electrical charges :
a) positive (+)
b) negative (-)
When two materials are rubbed against one
another, the friction that acts between the
materials causes one of materials to
become positively charge and the other to
become negatively charged

Electrostatics
Electrostatics

is the study of static

electrical charges.
Static electrical charges will occur
only in insulators such as plastic
rod.

Electrical Charges And Their

Properties
There are two types of electrical charges :
a) positive charges (proton)
b) negative charges(electron)
The different charges will attract one
another
The same charges will repel one another.
Both type of charges will attract anything
neutral.

Charging by Friction

An object with the same number of positive and

negative charges is said to be NEUTRAL.
If an object has more electrons than protons , it
will be negatively charged.
If an object has fewer electrons than protons , it
will be positively charged.
This method of charging an object is called
charging by friction.

All materials is made up of atoms.

Atom is made up of :
a) electron (negatively charge)- outside
b) proton ( positive charge) inside nucleus
c) neutron (no charges) inside nucleus

Material which have an equal number of positive

and negative charges are classified as neutral or
not charged.
When two different materials rub against one
another, negative electrical charges or electron
are transferred from one material to another
material.
The material which gains negative charges
becomes negatively charged, while the material
which loses its negative charges becomes
positively charged.

Detecting Static Electrical Charges

by using a Gold Leaf Electroscope

Electroscope is used to detect the electrical

charges.
The steps in the use of an electroscope :
a) Bring the object under test close to a metal
cap of a neutral electroscope.
b) If the gold leaf is deflected , the object is
charged.
c) If the gold leaf is not deflected, the object is
neutral or not charged.

EVERYDAY PHENOMENA
RELATED TO STATIC
ELECTRICAL CHARGES

LIGHTNING
- As the clouds rub against the air, they are charged by
friction.
- Positive charges gather at the top while negative charges at
the bottom.
- When the charged clouds move closer to the surface of the
earth, their negative charges will attract positive charges at
the surface of the earth and buildings.
- Strong electrostatics forces act between the unlike charges
causing them to move quickly towards one another and
releases a lot of energy in the form of flashes of light
commonly known as lightning.

LIGHTNING CONDUCTOR

To reduce the risk of a building being struck by

lightning.
Its are fitted at the highest point of the building and
connected by thick metal strip directly to the ground .
When lightning strikes a building, it will hit the
lightning conductor and its negative electrical charges
will flow directly into the earth through the metal strip
without causing any damage to the building.

OIL TANKER

When moves, its body is charged by friction.

As the amount of static electrical charges on the body
of the oil tanker increases, a strong electrostatic forces
causes a rapid flow of static electrical charges that
produces sparks.
Sparks can ignite inflammable oil vapour to cause an
explosion
To reduce electrical charges, a tanker has a metal chain
which will flow the charges to the ground without
causing any sparks.