Friction - Negative and Positive Charges

Friction between two objects sometimes leads to the transfer of electrons from one object to another. Electrons are units of negative electric charge. The object that gains the gains electrons gains a negative charge; the other object becomes positively charged.

If the object is made from material which conducts electricity, immediately the electrons leak away and the charge on its surface is destroyed. Objects with the same charge repel from one another, while objects with opposite charges attract one another.

An electric charge is more powerful at the beginning of the charge. When a charge strikes a wire, the charge is more powerful at the beginning of the wire than at the end.

Static Electricity

Stationary electrical charges are static electricity; the charges do not flow as in current electricity. If they do move at all, its only a very small distance.

Static electricity can be produced by rubbing a glass rod with a silk cloth. The faint crackling you hear when you comb your hair, or take off a sweater or sweatshirt made of acrylic fibers is due to tiny electric sparks. The sparks are caused by electrical charge flowing through the air. The air is heated and the atoms are torn apart along the path taken by the charge. In the dark you can see the blue glow of the sparks.

Static electricity in the atmosphere can also interfere with radio and television reception. Friction is also a cause of resistance. The more friction, the more resistance.

Spikes

A charge is also known as a fault. This type of charge can effect the operation of a piece of equipment.

A sudden, sharp uprise or peak in a motion, voltage, current, etc. is called a spike. A spike on equipment may not be able to handle the charge. A spike can cause equipment to malfunction or cause an electrical accident.

Lightning

Lightning is another example of an electric charge. Lightning gives off one of the most powerful charges known to man. Lightning can cause severe damage to property.

Lightning is the spark produced when electrical charges within a cloud suddenly flow from cloud to cloud or from sky to earth. Most of the charge is manufactured in the thunder cloud, where turbulent air currents moving up and down at terrific speed toss raindrops and ice crystals around.