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Static electricity

Static electricity is exactly what you would think it is - electricity that is not moving. You can usually make it by friction.

There are two types of electric charge – POSITIVE and NEGATIVE

If you take a piece of polythene and rub it with a duster, the polythene becomes charged negatively. The duster becomes positively charged. If a rod of cellulose acetate is rubbed the charge on it is positive.

Two charges of the same type repel each other.
Two charges of different types attract each other.


When an object is charged the charges do not always spread equally over its surface. With a round shape they are evenly spread but with a pointed shape the charges are always concentrated around the point.
 
© Keith Gibbs 2009