5 th Grade Science

S5P3a

Electricity: Static vs. Current (Flowing)

Electricity is a form of energy.

Electricity figures everywhere in our lives. Electricity lights up our homes, cooks our food, powers our computers, television sets, and other electronic devices. Electricity from batteries keeps our cars running and makes our flashlights shine in the dark.

What is electricity?

Static Electricity&

Current Electricity

Two Types of Electricity are…

Take a piece of wire. The electrons are passed from atom to atom, creating an electrical current from one end to the other.

Electricity "flows" or moves through some things better than others do.

Copper is used in many wires because it has a lower resistance than many other metals. The wires in your walls, inside your lamps and elsewhere are usually copper.

Current Electricity

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zHCW_2ns93w/T5VF4yOeq1I/AAAAAAAAAXI/AKW-IhOSM7Y/s1600/animation_switch_circuit_fast.gif

Let’s look at the flow of electrons…

Some things conduct electricity very poorly. These are called insulators. Rubber is a good insulator.

Another type of electrical energy is static electricity. Unlike current electricity that moves, static electricity stays in one place.

Static electricity is an imbalance of electric charges within or on the surface of a material. 

Static Electricity

Static Electricity

The spark associated with static electricity is caused by simply static discharge. This discharge is neutralized by a flow of charges from or to the surroundings.

Static Discharge

Discharge (the shock you feel is discharge)