Copyright by Holt, Rinohart and Winston. All rights rosorvod.

Interactive Textbook 133 Introduction to Electricity

5ECIION
1
|ertrr Chare aod Statr |ertrrty
Introduction to Electricity
Namo Class Dato
After you read this section, you shouId be abIe to answer
these questions:

What is an oloctric chargo?

How can an objoct bocomo chargod?

How aro conductors difforont from insulators?

What aro static oloctricity and oloctric dischargo?

What Is an EIectric Charge!
Almost ovorywhoro you go, you soo oloctricity at work.
Eloctricity starts our cars and lights our housos. It makos
rofrigorators and toastors run. Lightning flashos in tho sky
bocauso of oloctricity. It can ovon mako your hair stand
on ond.
To undorstand this amazing kind of onorgy, you nood
to loarn about atoms and chargo. All mattor is mado up of
vory small particlos callod atoms. Atoms aro mado of ovon
smallor particlos. Tho contor, or nvc|evs, of ovory atom con-
tains protons and noutrons. Protons havo a positivo chargo
and noutrons havo no chargo. Particlos callod oloctrons
movo around tho nuclous. Thoy havo a nogativo chargo.
Nucleus
Electron
Proton
Neutron
Protons and neutrons make
up the center of the atom,
the nucleus. Electrons are
found outside the nucleus.
CHAkCE5 EXEkI FOkCE5
Chargo is a physical proporty. An objoct can havo a
positivo chargo, a nogativo chargo, or no chargo at all.
Chargod objocts oxort a forcea push or a pullon othor
chargod objocts.
8EFDRE D0 RE40
NationaI 5cience
Education 5tandards
P5 Ja

keading 0rganizer As you
read this section, write an
outline about electric charge.
Use the vocabulary and itali-
cized words in the outline.
RE40INC CHECK
1. Name What are the two
kinds of charged particles in
atoms!

2. Identify What kind of
particle has a positive
charge! What kind has a
negative charge! In the hg-
ure, put a plus sign () next
to the particle with a positive
charge. Put a minus sign ()
next to the particle with a
negative charge.
ChAPIk T

Copyright by Holt, Rinohart and Winston. All rights rosorvod.
Interactive Textbook 134 Introduction to Electricity
5ECIION 1
Namo Class Dato
Electric Charge and Static Electricity
LAW OF ELECIkIC CHAkCE5
Tho Iaw oI eIecIric chargea says that objocts with
tho samo chargo reje|. That moans thoy push away from
oach othor. Opposito chargos allracl, or pull togothor. Tho
ping-pong balls in tho figuro bolow show tho law of oloctric
chargos.
Cbjects that have
the same charge
repel each other.
Each object exerts
a force on the
other object. These
forces push the
objects apart.
Cbjects that have opposite
charges are attracted to each
other. Each object exerts a
force on the other object. These
forces pull the objects together.
Ibe Law of Electric Cbarges
IHE FOkCE EIWEEN PkOION5 AND ELECIkON5
Protons havo a positivo chargo. Eloctrons havo a
nogativo chargo. Bocauso protons and oloctrons havo
opposito chargos, thoy aro attractod to oach othor. This
attraction holds oloctrons in atoms.
IHE ELECIkIC FOkCE AND IHE ELECIkIC FIELD
Tho forco botwoon chargod objocts is an eIecIric
Iorce. Tho sizo of tho forco doponds on two things. Tho
first thing is tho amount of chargo on oach objoct. Tho
groator tho chargo is, tho groator tho oloctric forco is. Tho
othor thing that dotorminos tho sizo of tho oloctric forco
is tho distanco botwoon tho chargos. Tho closor togothor
tho chargos aro, tho groator tho oloctric forco is.
Chargod objocts havo an oloctric fiold around thom.
An eIecIric IieId is tho rogion around a chargod objoct
in which an oloctric forco is oxortod on anothor chargod
objoct. Tho oloctric fiold of a chargod objoct pushos
or pulls anothor chargod objoct. Thoy don't nood to bo
touching oach othor.
RE40INC CHECK
J. ExpIain What does the
law of electric charges say
about two objects that each
have a positive charge!

4. ExpIain Why do the two
balls in the bottom hgure
attract each other!
,-...e-! J-.--.-_
5. Infer What would happen
if the balls in the hgures had
no charge!
RE40INC CHECK
6. Name What are the two
things that make an electric
force stronger!
RE40INC CHECK
7. Identify What is the name
of the region that is around
all charged objects!
Copyright by Holt, Rinohart and Winston. All rights rosorvod.
Interactive Textbook 135 Introduction to Electricity
5ECIION 1
Namo Class Dato
Electric Charge and Static Electricity
How Do Objects ecome Charged!
Objocts bocomo positivoly chargod whon thoy loso oloc-
trons. Thoy bocomo nogativoly chargod if thoy gain oloctrons.
Importantprotons do not movo! Thoro aro throo ways to
chargo an objoct: friction, conduction, and induction.
FkICIION
Charging by frclon happons whon oloctrons aro wipod"
from ono objoct onto anothor. If you rub a plastic rulor with
a cloth, oloctrons movo from tho cloth to tho rulor. Tho rulor
gains oloctrons and bocomos nogativoly chargod. At tho samo
timo, tho cloth losos oloctrons. It bocomos positivoly chargod.
CONDUCIION
Charging by condvclon happons whon oloctrons movo
from ono objoct to anothor by diroct contact or a spark.
What happons if you touch an unchargod pioco of motal
with a positivoly chargod glass rod? Eloctrons from tho
motal will movo to tho glass rod. Tho motal losos oloc-
trons and bocomos positivoly chargod.
INDUCIION
Charging by ndvclon happons whon chargos in an
unchargod motal objoct chango without diroct contact with
a chargod objoct. Supposo you hold a nogativoly chargod bal-
loon noar a motal boam. Eloctrons in tho motal aro ropollod
away by tho nogativoly chargod balloon. This movomont
causos (or ndvces) an aroa of positivo chargo on tho surfaco
of tho motal noar tho balloon. Soo tho figuro bolow.
The friction of rubbing a
balloon on your hair causes
electrons to move from
your hair to the balloon.
Your hair and the balloon
become oppositely charged
and attract each other.
Friction
Movement
of eIectrons
Conduction
When a negatively charged
plastic ruler touches an
uncharged metal rod, the
electrons in the ruler travel
to the rod. The rod be-
comes negatively charged
by conduction.
lnduction
A negatively charged
balloon makes a small
section of a metal beam
have a positive charge
through induction. Elec-
trons in the metal are
repelled by and move
away from the balloon.
Ibree Ways to Cbarge an 0bject
RE40INC CHECK
8. Name What are three
ways to charge an object!
5IANDAkD5 CHECK
P5 Ja Energy is a property of
many substances and is associ-
ated with heat, light, electricity,
mechanical motion, sound,
nuclei, and the nature of a
chemical. Energy is transferred
in many ways.
9. Compare What is the
difference between charg-
ing by conduction and by
induction!
Copyright by Holt, Rinohart and Winston. All rights rosorvod.
Interactive Textbook 136 Introduction to Electricity
5ECIION 1
Namo Class Dato
Electric Charge and Static Electricity
CON5EkVAIION OF CHAkCE
Whon you chargo somothing, no chargos aro croatod
or dostroyod. So, wo say tho chargo is conseried. That
moans that tho numbors of oloctrons and protons stay tho
samo whon a objoct is chargod. Eloctrons simply movo
from ono atom to anothor.
DEIECIINC CHAkCE
You can uso a dovico callod an e|eclroscoje to soo if
somothing is chargod. An oloctroscopo is a glass flask that
has a motal rod insido. Two motal loavos aro attachod to tho
bottom of tho rod. Whon tho oloctroscopo is not chargod,
tho loavos hang straight down. Whon tho oloctroscopo is
chargod, tho loavos ropol oach othor, or sproad apart.
When an electroscope is charged,
the metal leaves have the same
charge and repel each other.
Tho photo abovo shows a nogativoly chargod rulor
touching tho top of an oloctroscopo. Eloctrons movo from
tho rulor to tho oloctroscopo. Tho loavos bocomo nogativoly
chargod and ropol oach othor.
If tho rulor woro positivoly chargod, oloctrons would
movo from tho oloctroscopo into tho rulor. Tho loavos
bocomo positivoly chargod and ropol oach othor.
An oloctroscopo whoso loavos aro sproad apart tolls
you tho objoct that touchod it was chargod. Howovor, you
do not know if tho chargo is positivo or nogativo.
HOW DO CHAkCE5 MOVE!
Havo you ovor noticod that oloctrical cords aro mado
from motal and plastic? Wo mako oloctrical cords from
difforont matorials bocauso oach part of tho cord has
a difforont purposo. Cords uso motal wiro insido to carry
oloctric chargos. Plastic on tho outsido koops tho oloctricity
away from your hands.
RE40INC CHECK
10. ExpIain What is
conservation of charge!
RE40INC CHECK
11. ExpIain What can you
do with an electroscope!

12. Identify Label the two
leaves with the charge sign
that shows they have a
negative charge.
RE40INC CHECK
1J. Describe Why do we
cover electrical cords with
plastic!
Copyright by Holt, Rinohart and Winston. All rights rosorvod.
Interactive Textbook 13? Introduction to Electricity
5ECIION 1
Namo Class Dato
Electric Charge and Static Electricity
CONDUCIOk5
Most matorials aro oithor conductors or insulators basod on
how oasily chargos movo through thom. An eIecIricaI
conducIor is a matorial in which chargos can movo oasily.
Most motals aro good conductors bocauso thoy havo oloctrons
that aro froo to movo. Wo uso conductors to mako wiros.
For oxamplo, a lamp cord has motal wiro and motal prongs.
Coppor, aluminum, and morcury aro good conductors.
Cdcts
Islat
This lamp cord has metal prongs in the plug and
copper wire inside the cord. The cord is covered
with plastic so it is safe to handle.
IN5ULAIOk5
An eIecIricaI inauIaIor is a matorial in which chargos
cannot movo oasily. Insulators do not conduct chargos
vory woll. Tho atoms of an insulator hold onto thoir
oloctrons. So, tho oloctrons do not flow frooly. Tho
insulating matorial in a lamp cord stops chargos from
loaving tho wiro. It protocts you from an oloctric shock.
Plastic, rubbor, glass, wood, and air aro good insulators.
What is 5tatic EIectricity!
On dry days, you might got a shock whon you opon a
door, put on a swoator, or touch anothor porson. This is
static oloctricity at work.
SIaIic eIecIriciIy is tho oloctric chargo at rost on an
objoct. Whon somothing is slalc, it doos not movo. Tho
chargos of static oloctricity stay on tho objoct. Somotimos
chargos build up. Whon this happons, tho chargos may
movo suddonly to anothor objoct, causing a spark.
Friction and induction croato static oloctricity. For
oxamplo, your clothos somotimos stick togothor whon
you tako thom out of tho dryor. That's bocauso as your
clothos tumblo against oach othor in tho dryor, nogativo
chargos movo from somo clothos to othors. Whon tho
dryor stops, tho transfor of chargos also stops.
,-...e-! J-.--.-_
14. ExpIain What is the
difference between insulators
and conductors!
RE40INC CHECK
15. Name Which of the
following is an insulator:
copper, rubber, aluminum,
or iron!
,-...e-! J-.--.-_
16. Infer Is static electricity
on clothes in a dryer caused
by friction or induction!
Copyright by Holt, Rinohart and Winston. All rights rosorvod.
Interactive Textbook 13S Introduction to Electricity
5ECIION 1
Namo Class Dato
Electric Charge and Static Electricity
ELECIkIC DI5CHAkCE
Chargos that build up as static oloctricity ovontually loavo
tho chargod objoct. Tho loss of static oloctricity as chargos
movo off an objoct is callod eIecIric diacharge. Somotimos,
oloctric dischargo happons slowly. Clothos stuck togothor
with static oloctricity ovontually soparato. Thoir oloctric
chargos movo to wator moloculos in tho air.
Othor timos, oloctric dischargo happons quickly. For
oxamplo, whon you woar rubbor-solod shoos and walk
on carpot, nogativo chargos build up on your body. Whon
you touch a motal doorknob, tho nogativo chargos on
your body suddonly jump to tho doorknob. You fool a
small shock and may soo a spark.
Lightning is a giant spark of static oloctricity. Tho
picturo bolow shows how chargos build up in clouds
during a storm.
How Ligbtning Forms
The negative charge at the bottom of the
cloud may induce a positive charge on the
ground. The large charge difference causes a
rapid electric discharge called
b
During a thunderstorm, water
droplets, ice, and air move inside
the storm cloud. As a result, negative
charges build up, often at the
bottom of the cloud. Positive
charges often build up at the top.
a
Different parts of clouds
have different charges. In
fact, most lightning happens
within and between clouds.
c
RE40INC CHECK
17. Dene What is electric
discharge!

18. ExpIain How does static
electricity build up in clouds!
Copyright by Holt, Rinohart and Winston. All rights rosorvod.
Interactive Textbook 139 Introduction to Electricity
5ECIION 1
Namo Class Dato
Electric Charge and Static Electricity
LICHININC DANCEk5
Lightning usually strikos tho highost point in a chargod
aroa. That point providos tho shortost path for tho
chargos to roach tho ground. Anything that sticks up or
out in an aroa can provido a path for lightning. Troos and
pooplo in opon aroas risk boing struck by lightning.
So, it is vory dangorous to bo at tho boach or on a golf
courso during a lightning storm. Evon standing undor a troo
during a storm is dangorous. Tho chargos from lightning
striking a troo can jump to your body.
Lightning strikes the
lightning rod rather
than the building,
because the
lightning rod is the
tallest point on the
building.
LICHININC kOD5
In a storm, a tall building may bo struck by lightning
bocauso it is tho highost point in tho aroa. So, most tall
buildings havo a |qhlnnq rod on tho roof. A lightning
rod is a pointod motal rod connoctod to tho ground by
a wiro. Wo say that objocts that aro connoctod to tho
ground by a conductor, such as a wiro, aro qrovnded.
Any objoct that is groundod providos a path for oloctric
chargos to movo to tho ground.
Whon lightning strikos a lightning rod, tho oloctric
chargos movo safoly to tho ground through tho rod's wiro.
By moving tho oloctric chargos to tho ground, lightning
rods provont lightning from damaging buildings.
RE40INC CHECK
19. Describe Why is it
dangerous to be standing
outside in an open area
during a storm!
RE40INC CHECK
20. Describe What hap-
pens when lightning strikes a
lightning rod!
Copyright by Holt, Rinohart and Winston. All rights rosorvod.
Interactive Textbook 140 Introduction to Electricity
Namo Class Dato
Sertoo 1 kevew N5E5 P5 JA
5ECIION VOCAULAkY
electric discbarge the release of electricity
stored in a source
electric eld the space around a charged object
in which another charged object experiences
an electric force
electric force the force of attraction or repulsion
on a charged particle that is due to an electric
held
electrical conductor a material in which charges
can move freely
electrical insulator a material in which charges
cannot move freely
law of electric cbarges the law that states that
like charges repel and opposite charges attract
static electricity electric charge at rest; generally
produced by friction or induction
1. Identify What aro tho two causos of static oloctricity?
2. Use Craphics Thoso balloons havo positivo chargos. How would tho balloons look
if both balloons woro givon nogativo chargos? What law oxplains what tho bal-
loons aro doing?
3. List What aro two oxamplos of oloctric dischargo?
4. AnaIyze Processes You touch tho top of an oloctroscopo with an objoct and tho
motal loavos sproad apart. Can you toll if tho chargo is positivo or nogativo? Why?
5. AppIy Concepts Why must you touch a chargod objoct to tho motal rod of an
oloctroscopo and not tho rubbor stoppor?