There are several ways that an object can become charged, and electrons can be transferred. Friction is the transfer of electrons between two uncharged objects that are rubbing against each other. Induction is the movement of electrons within an object in response to an electric field of a charged object nearby. The electrons' movement creates a charge in a certain area of the object.Static ElectricityStatic electricity occurs when electric charges build up on an object, but the electrons do not flow. Static electricity is what causes lightning. An excess of positive charges builds up on the ground while a large number of negative charges builds up in the clouds. At a certain point, the difference between the negatively charged cloud and the positively charged ground is so great that the static electricity turns into an electrical current. The bolt of lightning is actually a discharge of electrons traveling at the speed of light toward the positive charges. ElectroscopeAn electroscope is an instrument used to detect charged particles. It has a long metal rod with a knob on top and two metal leaves attached to the bottom. The leaves hang straight down if the electroscope has no charge. If a charged object touches the knob and electrons are transferred, the metal leaves become charged. Because the leaves are the same charge, they repel each other and spread apart. The leaves will move in the presence of a negative or positive charge. Conduction is the transfer of charges when a charged object is in direct contact with another object. friction+++++++conduction++ ++ ++inductionmetal rodmetal leavesknobnegatively chargedmetal rodmetal rodmetal leavesknob+++++++++++knobpositively chargedglass rodmetal rodmetal leavesmetal rodmetal leavesknobnegatively chargedmetal rodmetal rodmetal leavesknob+++++++++++knobpositively chargedglass rodmetal rodmetal leavesHow Objects Become Charged© Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. 94-4488Visit www.newpathlearning.com for Online Learning Resources.In the 1700s, Benjamin Franklin studied lightning and electricity. He invented the lightning rod to protect buildings during storms.electroscope
< Page 4 | Page 6 >