Unit D Lesson 1: Lightning and Static Electricity

 Learning Targets

Big Question: What does lightning have to do with static electricity?
Humans have a large amount of influence over the types and amounts of chemicals found in the environment.

At the end of this inquiry, you should be able to answer the following questions:

  • What are the laws of electrical charges?
  • What is meant by charge separation?
  • What is static electricity?
Pages 274 to 278 in your textbook will help you answer these questions about lightning and static electricity.


Background Information


Figure 1 –Lightning is a huge discharge of static electricity.

Figure 2– Static electricity in your hair.


Figure 3 – Neutral charge; there are equal numbers of positive and negative charges.


Figure 4 – Negative charge; there are more negative charges than positive charges.
Objects with Positive, Negative, and Neutral Charges

All material consists of atoms, and all atoms have an equal amount of protons and electrons.  Electrons are the negative charges and protons are the positive charges.  Neutrons have no charge. 

When an object is neutral, the number of protons = number of electrons.

Consider the neutral object in Figure 3.  It has an equal number of protons and electrons.

Electrons can be moved by using the force of friction. An example of this is rubbing a balloon on your head. The friction will cause the electrons on your hair to transfer to the balloon. Now, the balloon has a negative charge because it has extra electrons (figure 4).

Sometimes, this build-up of excess electrons causes the electrons to jump.  We see this ‘jump’ in the form of a spark or shock.  This shock or spark is evidence of an electrical discharge.

Have you ever wondered what lightning is made of (figure 1)? Lightning is a natural phenomenon that occurs 40 to 50 times every second on Earth. In this lesson, you will discover that lightning is a massive discharge of static electricity.

Try It!

Practice Worksheet: Static Electricity

  1. DOWNLOAD this practice worksheet (S9_UD_S1_L1a_static_electricity). If you prefer to use a Google Drive or PDF version of the worksheet, click here. 

  2. Click here to open the simulation "John Travoltage". It should look similar to the image below. Rub John's foot against the rug, then move his hand to the doorknob.

  3. Complete the worksheet. Try to rub your foot across your own carpet and then touch a metal doorknob. You are welcome to use the simulation as well to help you answer the questions.

  4. When you are satisfied with your responses you can check your work by clicking on the "SUGGESTED ANSWERS" button below. 

    Wait! Don't view the suggested answers first. This practice work is not for marks, it is meant to help you check your understanding. Check the answers AFTER doing the questions! Keep the practice worksheet for study purposes. If you don't understand something, contact your teacher!

Image courtesy Ken Bosma

 

  1. You will get a shock due to the accumulation of static charge in your body, and the discharge from your finger to the doorknob.

  2. Friction causes a buildup of electrons. The more rubbing, the more friction; therefore, buildup of electrons will increase.

  3. Your body is becoming negatively charged because your feet are gaining electrons from the carpet.

  4. You get an electric shock due to the discharge of electrons.

  5. This phenomenon is called electric discharge.
Electric Discharge

Examine the three laws of charges to understand fully the idea behind electrical discharge.

The Laws of Electrical Charges are as follows:

  1. Opposite charges attract each other.
  2. Like charges repel each other.
  3. Charged objects are attracted to neutral objects


Watch

Watch “What is Lightning” to understand how lightning and thunder works.

 
 
Ever wonder what lightning looks like in slow motion?  Watch "Lightning in Super Slow Motion" to see the beauty behind the strike.

 
 
Want to see Bill Nye get zapped?  Check “Bill Nye the Science Guy on Static Electricity” to review what you have learned about static electricity.

Try It!

When objects are charged by friction, they are attracted to neutral objects.  When charged objects are brought beside neutral objects, a charge separation occurs.  This happens because like charges repel.  A great example of this can be seen in the following lab and simulation.

Materials:   regular balloon (not helium)

1. Inflate a balloon and observe it.  Now, place it next to a wall.  What happens?  Do you think the balloon is charged?
The balloon appears normal.  When placed against the wall, it falls to the ground.  It is not charged; no friction was used on the balloon to charge it.
2. Now, rub the balloon on your hair back and forth a few times.  Examine your hair.  Now, place the balloon next to the wall.  What happens?  Why does the balloon now stick to the wall?
The balloon sticks to the wall.  The rubbing caused friction, which led to a buildup of electric charges.  According to the third law of charges, a charged object, the balloon, is attracted to a neutral object, the wall.
3. How can you charge the balloon more?
By rubbing longer, you will increase the friction, which will increase the charge on the balloon.

Try It!

Balloon and Static Electricity Simulation
 
  1. DOWNLOAD this practice worksheet (S9_UD_S1_L1b_balloon_sim). If you prefer to use a Google Drive or PDF version of the worksheet, click here.

  2. Click here to open the online simulation "Balloons and Static Electricity". It should look similar to the image below. Experiment with the simulation by rubbing the balloon against the sweater, then moving the balloon toward the wall. You can also experiment with two balloons. Use the online simulation to answer the worksheet questions.

  3.  When you are satisfied with your responses you can check your work by clicking on the "SUGGESTED ANSWERS" button below.

    Wait! Don't view the suggested answers first. This practice work is not for marks, it is meant to help you check your understanding. Check the answers AFTER doing the questions! Keep the practice worksheet for study purposes. If you don't understand something, contact your teacher!


 


1. The balloon is neutral because there are equal numbers of protons and electrons.

2a. It gets many electrons on it.

2b. The balloon became negatively charged by the force of friction.

2c. The electrons, which are negatively charged, come from the sweater.

2d. The sweater became positively charged because electrons moved from the sweater to the balloon so there are now more protons than electrons on the sweater.

3. The balloon is attracted to the sweater because opposite charges attract. The sweater is positive and the balloon has a negative net charge.

4a. Neutral.

4b. Possible predictions:
  • The balloon will stick to the wall.
  • The balloon will not stick to the wall.
  • Charge separation will occur, and the balloon will stick to the wall.

4c.

The negative charges in the wall move away from the negatively charged balloon. Charge separation occurs in the wall as the negative electrons move away from the balloon, and the protons in the wall are attracted to the balloon.

4d. The balloon goes to the wall. This is the third law of charges. Charged objects (the balloon) are attracted to neutral objects (the wall).


5a. They are neutral because nothing is moving and they have equal electrons to protons.


5b. They become negatively charged.


5c. The first balloon stays attached to the wall (law of charges 3) but the second balloon floats away from the first balloon because like charges repel and they are both negatively charged.
Static Safety

Did you know that static electricity could cause fires at a gas station if you are not careful?

If a person is fueling a vehicle and decides to slide back into the vehicle, friction from the sliding causes electrons to build up on the person’s body (clothes).  When the person goes out of the vehicle and touches the gas pump, an electric discharge might occur, which produces a small zap.  This zap can ignite the gas – a fast fire!  When you self-serve your car, you must stand by the hose and squeeze the handle during the fill-up – and that’s a precaution against this fire hazard. Watch the video "Gas Station Fire" to see an example of how this occurs.


Watch

Did you know that static electricity could cause fires at a gas station if you are not careful?  If a person is fueling a vehicle and decides to slide back into the vehicle, friction from the sliding causes electrons to build up on the person’s body (clothes).  When the person goes out of the vehicle and touches the gas pump, an electric discharge might occur, which produces a small zap.  This zap can ignite the gas – a fast fire!  When you self-serve your car, you must stand by the hose and squeeze the handle during the fill-up – and that’s a precaution against this fire hazard. Watch the video "Gas Station Fire" to see an example of how this occurs.


Interactive


Static Electricity
 
  1. Click here to watch the BrainPOP video "Static Electricity" to review.

    You will need a username and password to access the video.
    • Username: 0099
    • Password: students

  2. Click here to take the review quiz on Static Electricity. Be sure that you check your answers at the end.