What is static electricity?
Static electricity is the build up of charge on insulating materials.
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Objects normally have a neutral charge overall. Explain why.
Objects consist of atoms, which consist of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
Normally, the number of positive protons is equal to the number of negative electrons, so the overall charge is neutral.
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How does static electricity build up?
When two objects are rubbed together, the friction can cause electrons to move from one object onto the other.
This can lead to a build up of charge.
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Is static electricity more likely to build up on conductors or insulators?
Static electricity will only build up on insulating materials, as the electrons would just flow straight back if the materials were conductors.
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When two materials are rubbed together, which particles are transferred?
Electrons
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What causes a spark between an object and the earth?
A large build-up of charge on an object can cause a large potential difference between the object and the earth.
The large potential difference could allow electrons to jump through the air from one object to the other. We call this jumping of electrons a spark.
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