History of electricity
Who coined the term electric force in 1600 while experimenting with amber?
William Gilbert
Name the three subatomic particles and where they are located in the atom.
Protons and neutrons (in the nucleus), electrons (orbiting the nucleus)
Name the four fundamental forces of nature.
Gravity, strong nuclear force, weak nuclear force, and the electric (electromagnetic) force
What is the rule for how like charges and opposite charges interact?
Like charges repel; opposite charges attract
What is static electricity?
Electric charge buildup from friction, often causing sparks or clinging
What does the Greek word atom mean?
Indivisible
Which particle primarily moves to create electricity?
Electrons
State Newton’s first law of motion.
An object in motion stays in motion (or at rest) unless acted upon by an outside force
What does it mean that electric charge is quantized?
It exists in discrete units — the smallest charge is that of a single electron or proton
Why does a balloon rubbed on hair stick to a wall?
Polarization — the wall’s charges shift, leaving a net attraction
What did Benjamin Franklin call the mysterious phenomenon of electric attraction and repulsion?
Electrical fire
Why don’t neutrons play a role in electricity?
They are electrically neutral (zero charge)
State Newton’s third law of motion.
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction
Define an electric field in physics.
A region of space where a charged particle experiences a force
What’s the difference between conductors and insulators?
Conductors (like copper) allow charges to flow freely; insulators (like rubber) resist charge flow
What law about charge did Franklin’s experiments help demonstrate?
Electric charge is conserved — it cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred
Why do electrons orbit the nucleus instead of protons orbiting electrons?
Electrons are much less massive, so they accelerate more under the same force
Who discovered the equation for the electric force, and what is it called?
Charles Coulomb; Coulomb’s Law
What is an electric dipole?
Two equal and opposite charges close together, creating a field pointing from positive to negative
What is a Faraday cage, and what does it do?
A conductive enclosure that blocks external electric fields and protects the inside
In Franklin’s famous kite experiment, what did he actually prove about lightning?
that lightning is an electrical phenomenon
What are protons and neutrons made of (though not needed to explain electricity)?
Quarks
How does Coulomb’s law differ from the law of gravity?
Coulomb’s law can be attractive or repulsive, while gravity is only attractive; and the electric force is much stronger
State Gauss’s Law in words.
The total electric field flux through a closed surface depends only on the net charge inside the surface
Why does a lightning rod have a pointed shape?
Charges concentrate at sharp points, making it a more likely target for lightning