Static Electricity

• What happens when charges build up in static electricity?

  They can discharge suddenly
• What occurs when you rub a balloon against hair?

  Electrons transfer from hair to balloon
• What are the two types of electrical charges in static electricity?

  • Negative charge
  • Positive charge
• Why do the plasma streamers in a globe follow the path to a person's hand when touched?

  Because the human hand provides the path of least resistance for the discharge to travel to ground.
• What is static electricity?

  An imbalance of electrical charges
• What is grounding in the context of static electricity control?

  Connecting the charged object to the earth
• What are anti-static materials used for?

  Prevent charge accumulation by allowing electron flow
• How do electrical charges behave in static electricity?

  They accumulate without flowing continuously
• What happens to an object that loses electrons?

  It becomes positively charged
• What charge does the balloon acquire after rubbing it against hair?

  The balloon becomes negatively charged
• What happens to opposite charges in static electricity?

  • They attract each other.
  • Can cause sparks or shocks when discharged.
• What does static electricity consist of?

  Positive or negative electrical charges
• What occurs between unlike charges according to the law of electrical charges?

  • Unlike charges attract each other
  • One charge is positive and the other is negative
  • Example: A negatively charged balloon sticks to a positively charged wall
• What happens to like charges according to the law of electrical charges?

  • Like charges repel each other
  • Both charges are either negative or positive
  • Example: Two negatively charged balloons repel
• What is static electricity?

  Static electricity involves electrical charges.
• What are the main components and functions of a plasma globe?

  • A glass sphere
  • A central electrode
  • Rarefied gas within the sphere
  • High voltage power supply
  • Plasma discharges from the central electrode
• What is static electricity?

  Electricity created by electron transfer
• What happens to an object that gains extra electrons?

  It becomes negatively charged
• What are insulators?


  Materials that prevent electron flow
• If the voltage in a plasma globe is increased, what would likely happen?

  The intensity and number of plasma streamers would increase.
• What are the main causes of static electricity effects in daily life?

  • Electron imbalance
  • Attraction of positive charges
  • Repulsion of negative charges
• What can cause an electric shock in daily life?

  Touching metal door handles
• What are the methods to control static electricity?

  1. Grounding
  2. Humidifying
  3. Anti-static materials
  4. Ionization
• How does grounding help in controlling static electricity?

  Dissipates charges through the ground
• What effect does the negatively charged balloon have on hair?

  It attracts the hair
• How does increased moisture in the air affect static cling in clothes?


  Prevents static cling in clothes
• In what settings is ionization commonly used?

  In industrial settings or for electronic devices
• How does a plasma globe work?

  1. A high voltage power supply generates a strong electric field within the plasma globe.
  2. The electric field excites the gas molecules within the sphere, causing them to ionize and form plasma.
  3. Plasma discharges travel along the electric field lines from the central electrode to the outer glass sphere.
  4. When you touch the surface, the plasma discharges follow the path of least resistance to your hand, creating visible streamers.
• How is static electricity created?

  By rubbing materials together to transfer electrons
• What visual effect can be seen in plasma globes?

  Red streaks
• What happens when a material gains extra electrons?

  It becomes negatively charged.
• Why do materials differ in their ability to hold electrons?

  Due to their material properties
• Why do static electricity effects occur?

  Due to electron imbalance and charge attraction/repulsion
• Where are anti-static materials commonly found?


  In clothing or carpets
• What does controlling static electricity involve?

  Managing the imbalance of electrical charges
• What is the term for the electricity we experience daily?

  Static electricity
• What occurs when a material loses electrons?

  It becomes positively charged.
• What is ionization in the context of static electricity control?


  Neutralizes charges using ionized air
• What phenomena can occur due to static electricity discharges?

  Sparks or shocks
• What is the purpose of humidifying the air regarding static electricity?

  Reduces charge buildup on surfaces