Static Electricity Handout PDF

Parts of an Atom Substances that contain only one kind of atom are called elements. Some familiar elements are oxygen, gold, silver, and helium. An atom is the smallest part of an element that can be broken down and still have the characteristics of that element. All atoms are basically the same. Al...

Parts of an Atom Substances that contain only one kind of atom are called elements. Some familiar elements are oxygen, gold, silver, and helium. An atom is the smallest part of an element that can be broken down and still have the characteristics of that element. All atoms are basically the same. All atoms of the same element are exactly alike; however, the atoms of a different element will differ from other elements. With the exception of hydrogen, all atoms have three main parts. The parts of an atom are protons, electrons, and neutrons. A proton is positively charged and is located in the centre or nucleus of the atom. Electrons are negatively charged and are located in rings or orbits spinning around the nucleus. The number of protons and electrons is always equal. This equality is important so that the atom is neither positively nor negatively charged. It is said to be neutral. The third part of the atom is the neutron. Neutrons are neither positive nor negative and are located in the centre of the nucleus of an atom along with the protons. Protons and neutrons are the heavy parts of an atom. Their combined weights are called the atomic weight of an element. Electrons are so light that we say they do not have weight. After reading the above, use the table below to help you understand about protons, electrons, and neutrons. Atomic Part Weight Charge Where Found Yes No Positive Negative Neutral Inside Nucleus Outside Nucleus Proton Electron Neutron Study the drawings and answer the questions at the bottom of the page. 1. How many protons are in atom B? __________ atom A? __________ 2. How many neutrons are in atom B? __________ atom A? __________ 3. How many electrons are in atom A? __________ atom B? __________ 4. What is the atomic weight of atom B? __________ atom A? __________  / What ssStatsaEHecErsaEEy electv.''on (,-oo) plucle.us I p,'otons [.ve) cr"td neUtt*") Aroyl Evenythie'lgwe see is rmadeup of tiny.littleparts called atoms.Theatomsare made sf even srnallerparts.T'f,lese are calledprotons,electronsand neutrons.Tlreyare,very differentfrorn eachothenirenlanyways.One way they anedifferentis their"chargel" Frotosrshavea positive{+} charge.Electronshave a negative(-}charge.Neutnons haveno change. Userally, atonnshavethe sasmenrumber of electronsand protons.Thenthe atosmhas no charge,it is "neutral."But if you rub things together,electronscan movefrosnone atom to another.Som'le atorarsget extraelectrons.They havea negativeclrarge.Othen atornslose electrons.They havea positivecharge.When chargesare separatedlike this, it is calledstatic electricity. lf two things havedifferentcharEes,they attract,or pul! towardseacl'lothen.lf two tl"ringshavethe sarnecharge,they repel,or push awayfrom eachother. Sq_, why does your hair stand up afteryou take your hat off? Whenyou pull your -eachhat off, it rubs againstyour hair. Electronsrnovefnornyou!.hair to the hat. Now of the hainshas the samepositlve charge.Thingswith the same chargerepe!each other. So the hairstry to moveaway frorn eachother.The farthestthey can get !s to stand up aeldawayfrom all the other hairs. !f you walk acrossa carpet,electronsmovefrom the rug to you. Nowyou have extra electrons.Toucha door knob and ZAP!The electronstnooefrom you to the knob. you get a shock. e;e 6b #a POSITME CHARGE NEUTRAL NEGATIVE T.IOCHARGE CF|ARGE