Electric Charges and Forces

Discover electric charges and forces! Learn about atoms, static electricity, and how charges attract or repel.

A. Electric Charges1. Atoms are made of protons, neutrons, and electrons.2. Protons and Neutrons make up the nucleus of an atom.3. Electrons move around the nucleus.4. There are two types of electric charge, positive (+) and negative (-).5. A(n) proton has positive charge and a(n) electron has negative charge.6. An atom is electrically neutral when it has equal numbers of protons and electrons.7. Electrically neutral objects do not attract or repel one another.8. Objects can become charged when electrons move from one object to another. 9. An object that gains electrons has a negative charge.10. An object that loses electrons has a positive charge. B. Electric Forces1. A(n) electric field surrounds every charged object.2. An electric field applies a(n) electric force to other charged objects.3. When two charged objects have the same type of charge, the objects repel each other.4. When two charged objects have different types of charge, the objects attract each other.5. The strength of an electric force between charged objects depends on the amount of charge on each object and the distance between them.6. If the distance between two charged objects stays constant, then electric force increases as the total amount of charge of the two objects increases.7. If the amount of charge on two objects stays constant, then electric force increases as the objects move closer together. Cause and Effect Complete the cause-effect chart with the correct sentence from the list in the space provided. Each sentence is used only once. The Cause is located in the left column and the Effect is located in the right column. Electrons move from one object to another. An unbalanced charge forms on the object. Some materials hold electrons more loosely than other objects. Electrons move from one object to another. An electric field surrounds every charged object. Electric force is applied to other charged objects. Cause and Effect Huge amounts of electrons move from a storm cloud to the ground (electric discharge). A flash of light, called lightning, occurs. One negatively charged object and one positively charged object come close to each other. The objects attract each other. Two negatively charged objects come near each other. The objects repel each other BrainPOP Click on the link aboveEnter:Username: erapplebyPassword: applebySearch for Static Electricity in the search barClick on the one with the sock, watch the video and then answer the questions below. Brain Pop: Static Electricity Brain Pop: What is the major difference between static electricity and current electricity? Current electricity involves a continuous flow of neutrons; static electricity is a sudden transfer of protons. Current electricity can be deadly; static electricity is almost always safe. In current electricity, there's a single transfer of electrons; in static electricity, there's a steady flow of electrons. In current electricity, there's a steady flow of electrons; in static electricity, there's a single transfer of electrons. Brain Pop: What is static electricity cause by? A balance of power. A balance of positive and negative charges. An imbalance of positive and negative charges. An imbalance of protons and neutrons. Brain Pop: If a substance has an excess number of electrons on its surface, what type of charge does it have? positive negative neutral nuclear Brain Pop: Which of the following atoms is considered neutral? An atom with 5 protons, 6 neutrons, and 5 electrons. An atom with 5 protons, 5 neutrons, and 6 electrons. An atom with 6 protons, 5 neutrons, and 5 electrons. An atom with 6 protons, 6 neutrons, and 5 electrons. Brain Pop: Which of these materials is an insulator? A B C D Brain Pop: How are electrons different from protons and neutrons? Protons and neutrons are negatively charged; electrons are positively charged. Protons and neutrons exist inside the atomic nuclei; electrons orbit atomic nuclei. Electrons exist inside the atomic nuclei; protons and neutrons orbit atomic nuclei. Protons and neutrons are positively charged; electrons have no charge. Brain Pop: What role does adhesion play in static electricity? It causes atomic nuclei to become unstable. It makes sure that atoms stay neutrally charged. It prevents certain materials from giving away electrons. It pulls electrons from one surface to another. Brain Pop: What can you infer about any object that gives you a static shock when you touch it? It's a conductor It's an insulator It's negatively charged It's positively charged Brain Pop: What happens when you touch a metal doorknob after rubbing your shoes on the carpet? The doorknob sends a burst of electric current into your body. Millions of electrons go from your finger into the doorknob. The doorknob sends millions of electrons into your body. Your finger becomes negatively charged. Brain Pop: Lightning is a form of static electricity. What can you infer about what happens when lightning strikes the ground? Protons and neutrons are transferred from the clouds to the ground. The ground becomes negatively charged. Electrons are transferred from the clouds to the ground. An electric current is established between the clouds and the ground.