Teachers Notes

This sequence of slides is designed to introduce, and explain

electrostatic charging by friction, as explained on
page 242 in New Physics for You, 2006 & 2011 editions
(page 248 in Physics for You, 2001 edition).
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Charging by friction
New Physics for You, page 242

Learning Objectives
You should learn :
How insulated objects can be
charged by friction,
That this is because some
charges can move.

Charging by friction
In this diagram:
The wool and polythene
are each uncharged.
What does this mean?

Charging by friction
+

The wool is
uncharged,
because

it has equal amounts

of positive and
negative charge.
Equal numbers of
+ and
On the wool

+
+
+

+ +

On the polythene

Charging by friction
Equal numbers of +
and on the wool:
(Count them!)

7+

Equal numbers of +
and on the
polythene:
(Count them!)
3+

+
+

+
+
+

+ +

Charging by friction
If you rub the wool on
the polythene, some
electrons () move
from the wool to the
polythene.
There are now more +
than on the wool:
(Count them!)

+
+

+
+
+

+ +

+
+

So now the wool is charged

positively,
with a surplus of 3 +

Charging by friction
What has happened to
the polythene?
There are now more
than + on the
polythene:
(Count them!)
So now the polythene is
charged negatively,
with a surplus of 3

+
+

+
+
+

+ +

+
+

Charging by friction
This is summed
up
in the diagram
on page 242:
Both objects are
now equally
charged,
with opposite
charges
because electrons
(only) have

Learning Outcomes
You should now:
Understand what it means when an
object
is charged or uncharged,
Understand how an insulated object
becomes charged by rubbing,
Understand why the objects have
equal
but opposite charges,
Know that only electrons () can
move.

For more details, see:

New Physics for You, page 242

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