Electricity: The Shocking Truth!
No invention on earth has changed our lives more than understanding the power of electricity. We are going to learn more about this powerful source of energy. One form of electricity that forms naturally is static electricity. Read on to learn more about it!
Everything we see is made up of tiny particle of energy called atoms. The atoms are made of even smaller parts. These are called protons, electrons and neutrons. They are very different from each other in many ways. One way they are different is their "charge." Protons have a positive (+) charge. Electrons have a negative (-) charge. Neutrons have no charge. Particles which have opposite electrical charges are attracted to each other, causing the particles of the atom to stay together. Electrons are said to orbit around the larger nucleus of the atom. Sometimes these orbits are not circular but irregular in shape due to the electron pull towards the nucleus of the atom and against the other elements. Scientists sometimes refer to these energy levels as electron clouds.
Usually, atoms have the same number of electrons and protons. Then the atom has no charge, it is "neutral." But if you rub things together, electrons can move from one atom to another. Some atoms get extra electrons. They have a negative charge. Other atoms lose electrons. They have a positive charge. When charges are separated like this, it is called static electricity.
If two things have different charges, they
attract, or pull towards each other. If two things have the same charge, they
repel, or push away from each other.
So, why does your hair stand up after you take
your hat off? When you pull your hat off, it rubs against your hair. Electrons
move from your hair to the hat. Now each of the hairs has the same positive
charge. Things with the same charge repel each other. So the hairs try to move
away from each other. The farthest they can get is to stand up and away from all
the other hairs.
If you walk across a carpet, electrons move from the rug to you. Now you have extra electrons. Touch a door knob and ZAP! The electrons move from you to the knob. You get a shock.
What is Matter?
Now that you have a better understanding of static electricity, let's explore atoms. Below you will find a link to a PowerPoint presentation that will explain matter.