Chapter 17 Natural World

Charge is Moveable

Objectives
To show that like charges

repel.
To show that unlike charges
attract.
To show that surface electrons
can be removed from an
object, giving it a positive
charge.
To show that surface electrons

All substances are composed of

atoms. These atoms are
themselves composed of electrons,
protons, and neutrons.
Electrons within atoms have differing
amounts of energy. Valence
electrons tend to have the most
energy and are the easiest for an
atom to lose.

substance that has an equal number of

positive and negative charges is said to
be electrically neutral. These neutral
objects can be given a temporary
charge by rubbing them with various
objects.
Rubbing them will either add or remove
SURFACE ELECTRONS.
A

You have seen this demonstrated

in several ways. Think of what
happens during the winter
when you walk across carpet.
Your shoes rub the carpet and
removes electrons from it.
Since nature does not like for
things to have a charge, you
will discharge whenever you
touch a metal object (or

Probably the most well known

example of charge being
moveable is when you take a
balloon and rub it with your
shirt. Surface electrons are
moved and the balloon is given
a temporary charge. It then
causes like surface electrons to
to move and the balloon sticks

CHANGING CHARGES
Notice that when sliding friction
occurs, if a charge occurs, TWO
THINGS BECOME CHARGED. The
object that GAINS electrons
becomes temporarily
NEGATIVELY charged. The object
that LOSES electrons becomes
temporarily POSITIVELY charged.

Another example of charge being moveable

occurs in your dryer. The clothes are
tumbling together with the dry heat and
electrons are being transferred. This
causes opposite charges to form and the
clothes stick together. This is called static
cling.
In lab you proved charge is moveable with
vinyl and acetate strips. When these
strips are rubbed, surface electrons are
transferred, giving the various strips a
temporary charge.

Uncharged Acetate Strip

Notice that the charges are spread out
equally.

Picture of rags after rubbing

Notice how the charges of both the strip
and rag change after rubbing.

Picture of rag after rubbing.

Notice that both the rag as

well as the plastic strip

become charged. This is
because as one object gains
electrons and becomes
negative, one object must lose
electrons and become positive.

Electroscope
The electroscope is device that will
give additional proof that charge is
moveable. When a charged rod is
brought near the top of the
electroscope, electrons will move to
cause a charge. This gives the leaves
the same charge and they then repel.
This happens when both the vinyl and
acetate strips are applied.

Electroscope

Knowing why the leaves of the

electroscope work, can you now
explain why your hair will become
frizzy when you try to brush it?
You are changing surface electrons.
The hairs have the same charge
and repel each other. In order to
do this they fly apart and the
result isfrizzy hair.

Van de Graaf Generator

The Van de Graaf is a device that

generates a large number of

electrons. These electrons travel to
the surface of the sphere, giving it a
negative charge.
What happens to your hair when

you touch the Van de Graaf, and

why does it happen?

Van de Graaf

Answer
The electrons travel from the
Van de Graaf to your body
when you place your hand
on it. This includes your
head and hair. Your hairs
take on a negative charge.
Like the leaves of the
electroscope, they want to

Results of Lab
When two vinyl strips are both rubbed
with the same cloth, they both have
the same charge. When the strips
are brought together, they repel.
The same thing is true for the acetate
strips. When they are both rubbed
with the same cloth, they both
obtain the same charge, and
therefore, repel each other.

When the vinyl and acetate strips are

brought together, they attract.
This is because they have
opposite charges.
So, the results from you lab prove
that like charges repel and unlike
charges attract.
Results from lab also show that
surface electrons can be
transferred, giving objects a