Static Electricity - gcse physics

• What should you be able to describe by the end of the video on static electricity?

  How electrons can be moved from one insulator to another and how this can lead to static electricity and sparking
• What happens to a person's hair when they are near a Van de Graaff generator?

  The person's hair stands on end due to static electricity
• What are the differences between conductors and insulators?

  • Conductors (e.g., metals):
  • Allow electrons to flow easily
  • Insulators (e.g., plastic, glass, cloth):
  • Do not conduct electricity
  • Electrons cannot move through them
• Why are metals considered good conductors of electricity?

  Because electrons can easily flow through metals
• Why can't electrons move through cloth?

  Because cloth is an insulator
• What happens to the charge of cloth when it rubs against plastic?


  The cloth gains an overall negative charge
• What charge does plastic have after rubbing it with cloth?

  The plastic has an overall positive charge
• What is static electricity?

  It is the result of an imbalance of electric charges on an object
• What can happen if static electricity builds up during aircraft refueling?

  It can cause a spark and trigger an explosion
• How does a Van de Graaff generator work?

  1. A moving belt transfers electrons from the top plastic roller onto the belt.
  2. As the belt moves over the bottom roller, electrons pass off the belt to Earth.
  3. The top region of the generator becomes positively charged.
  4. The metal dome stores positive charge and allows it to spread out.
• What happens to a person holding the dome of a Van de Graaff generator?

  The person acquires an overall positive charge
• Why do the hairs on a person's head repel each other when they are positively charged?

  Because like charges repel each other
• What is done to prevent static electricity from causing sparks during aircraft refueling?

  Both the refueling truck and the airplane are earthed
• What will the next video focus on after discussing static electricity?

  It will explore the idea of an electric field
• Where can students find questions on electricity related to the video?

  In the vision workbook linked in the video
• What is the relationship between rubbing insulators together and static electricity?

  Rubbing insulators together can transfer electrons, leading to static electricity