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Unit 10: Electricity Page 14
out of the dryer stick to things. All such as amber, rubber balloons,
those things have charges and can copper, brass, gold, cellophane
create temporary charges on tape, Teflon, and silicone rubber.
things they get close to.
When you rub a glass rod with silk,
Charge It Up the glass takes on a positive
charge and the silk holds the
Is there a negative charge. When you rub
difference your head with a balloon, the hair
between the zap takes on a positive charge and the
you get from balloon takes on a negative charge.
scuffing your
socks on the carpet and a bolt of When you scuff along the carpet,
lightning? you build up a static charge (of
electrons). Your socks insulate you
Yes! There is one difference, and it from the ground, and the electrons
is quantity. When you scuff along can’t cross your sock-barrier and
the carpet, you're gathering up zip back into the ground. When
electrons from the floor. When you you touch someone (or something
touch someone, the electrons jump grounded, like a metal faucet), the
right over, zapping the both of you. electrons jump from you and
Lightning does the same thing, just complete the circuit, sending the
with a lot more power. electrons from you to them (or it).
So how do you know what charge Hot Electric Tip: Static electricity
something takes on? How do you experiments work best on a warm,
know if the balloon is positively or dry day. If you're stuck inside on a
negatively charged? rainy day, close the windows and
crank up the heater to dry out the
The triboelectric series is a list that air first before doing any static
ranks different materials according electricity experiments.
to how they lose or gain electrons.
Near the top of the list are Electrical Circuits
materials that take on a positive
charge, such as air, human skin, Although we can't ‘see’ electricity
glass, rabbit fur, human hair, wool, flow through wires, you can
silk, and aluminum. Near the certainly see, hear, and feel its
bottom of the list are materials effects: the light bulb flashing on,
that take on a negative charge, the hair dryer blowing, the radiant
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