Page 87 - Big Ideas Year 10 sciPAD 2025

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SCIPAD - BIG IDEAS - BOOK 2
CIRCUITS AND MAGNETS
What is Electricity?
Electricity is a type of energy that can build up in one place, or flow from one place to another.
There are two main types of electricity. When electrons gather in one place it is known as static
electricity (the word static describes something that does not move). Electricity that moves from
one place to another is called current electricity.
Electricity is caused by electrons, the particles that surround the
nucleus of atoms. Each electron has a negative charge. An
atom normally has an equal number of electrons and protons
(positively charged particles in its nucleus), so atoms have
no overall electrical charge.
Static electricity is created when certain materials
rub against each other and some of the electrons are
transferred from one material to the other. If a material
gains electrons it will have a negative charge. If a
material loses electrons it will have a positive charge.
Lightning is caused by static electricity building up in
clouds. You may also have experienced static electricity after jumping on a trampoline or wearing
a polar fleece that has just come out of the dryer.
Current electricity is the flow of electrons from one place to another, carrying electrical energy.
1. Complete the table below outlining the main differences between static and current
electricity.
Static Electricity Current Electricity
Caused by electrons?
Electrons are moving?
Used to power appliances?
2. List four examples of where you might observe the effects of static electricity.
(a) 
(b) 
(c) 
(d) 
3. A plastic rod is rubbed against a nylon cloth. The rod becomes positively charged.
(a) What charge will the nylon cloth have? 
(b) How has the nylon cloth gone from having no charge, to having the charge you
stated in (a)? 


4. Draw a HAZCHEM symbol for electrical danger in the space below.
You can observe the effects of static electricity
right now by rubbing a plastic pen in your hair.
After a few seconds you can use the pen to
pick up small pieces of paper.
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