Static Electricity
What causes static electricity to build up on an object?
The buildup of excess electrons or a static charge due to friction.
What is current electricity?
The flow of electric charge through a conductor.
What unit is voltage measured in?
Volts (V).
Give three examples of things that conduct electricity and one example of an 'insulator' (keeps the electricity from going where you don't want it to go).
Wire, water, you, gold, graphite, etc.
Insulator: rubber, plastic, glass, etc.
What component provides the power in a circuit?
The energy source (like a battery).
What type of charge does an object have if it gains electrons?
Negative.
Name one example of a device that uses current electricity.
Light bulb, phone charger, fan, etc.
What tool is used to measure voltage?
A voltmeter.
Why does a balloon stick to a wall after being rubbed on your hair?
Charge separation in the wall causes attraction.
What part of a circuit carries the electric charge?
The conductor (like a wire).
What law explains why opposite charges attract and like charges repel?
The Law of Electrical Charges.
What are the three required parts of a basic circuit?
Energy source, conductor, and load.
In simple terms, what is voltage?
The amount of energy each charged particle carries.
What causes a lightning bolt during a thunderstorm?
A massive discharge of built-up static electricity.
What does the "load" do in a circuit?
Converts electrical energy into another form (like light or heat).
Rubbing a balloon on your hair causes what kind of particle transfer?
Electrons transfer from the hair to the balloon.
What direction do electrons flow in a circuit?
From the negative terminal to the positive terminal.
In simple terms, what is amperage?
The rate at which electric current flows.
Why do dryer sheets reduce static cling?
They reduce friction and prevent electron transfer between clothes.
What does a switch do in a circuit?
Opens or closes the circuit to turn the load on or off.
Why do your clothes stick together in the dryer?
Friction causes a transfer of electrons, building up static electricity.
What happens when there's a gap in the circuit?
The circuit is open and the electrons cannot flow.
How many volts can a bolt of lightning have?
1-300 million volts
Why does your hair stand up before a lightning strike or when you rub it with a balloon?
All the strands of hair are now positively charges and each strand repeles all the other strands.
What happens to energy that isn't converted into light in a light bulb?
It's released as heat (waste energy).