Electric Charge and

Electric Field
Atom:
Nucleus (small,
massive, positive
charge)
Electron cloud (large,
very low density,
negative charge)
Electricity comes from
the Latin word meaning
“amber”. Amber is the
fossilized sap from the
ancient trees often used
in jewellery.
Electricity is the
flow of charge in
a conductor.
Charge is the
amount of
electricity an object
contains.
Each having an absolute
value of
1.6 x 10 Coulombs
-19

Experiments have shown

that
Like signed charges repel
each other
Unlike signed charges
attract each other
Benjamin Franklin coined the
terms Positive and Negative,
in line with his theory that
there is single “electrical
fluid”, that flows in
response to some kind of
pressure, from positive to
negative.
Franklin’s terms were
arbitrary, and in fact
electricity (electrons) flow in
the opposite direction to his
“guess”.
 IN WHAT WAY CAN
OBJECT BE CHARGED?
• An object becomes electrostatically
charged by:
1.Friction, which transfers electrons
between two objects in contact.
2.Contact with a charged body which
results in the transfer of electrons.
3.Induction which produces a charge
redistribution of electrons in a
material.
 TYPES OF FORCES
•There are only four
fundamental forces of
nature.
1.Gravitational Force
2.Electromagnetic Force
3.Strong Nuclear Force
4.Weak Nuclear Force
CONDUCTORS
AND
INSULATORS
When it comes to the
flow of electric current,
all materials fall into
three categories:
•Insulators
•Conductors
•resistors
INSULATOR – any material that
does not allow electric current to
pass through it
• Like the protective coating on wires
Insulators like plastic
and rubber are used as
covering for electric
wires.
This makes electric
wires safer to handle
because the insulator
protects you from the
current.
CONDUCTOR – any
material that allows electric
current to pass through it
Conductive material
(metal) is used for
wires that will carry
electricity.
RESISTOR – a material
or a device that allows
some current to pass but
converts some of the
current to another form of
energy.
These appliances have
resistors that convert
electrical energy into light
energy.
These appliances have
resistors that turn electrical
energy into motion energy.
These appliances have
resistors that change
electrical energy into heat
energy.
These appliances have
resistors that convert
electrical energy into sound
energy.
Useful electric current can
only move through a path
of conductive material.

This path is called a ……

CIRCUIT – a
path for electric
current.
An electric circuit
might be open or
closed.
CLOSED CIRCUIT – an
unbroken path for electric
current (no gaps, current can
flow).
OPEN CIRCUIT – a path
for electric current that has
a gap (no current can flow).
Most electrical
devices have
switch in the
circuit to make
easy to close (turn
on) and open (turn
off) the circuit.
SWITCH – a tool to
open and close a circuit.
A circuit can also be opened
and closed by touching two
wires together.
A circuit can also be
closed by touching those
two wires to a conductor.