AQA · GCSE · Physics
Course version: 8463 · Version from Sept 2016
Static charge: The material that gains electrons becomes negatively charged.
A neutral object holds as many electrons as protons, so the charges cancel.
Checked against the AQA 8463 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 3 of 9
- 3 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
A neutral object holds as many electrons as protons, so the charges cancel. Add electrons and that balance breaks: there are now more negative charges than positive ones and the object is negatively charged overall. The size of the charge depends on how many extra electrons it holds, and it stays charged until those electrons can flow away. This is what happens to a student touching the dome of a static generator: electrons are transferred onto her, every hair on her head gains the same negative charge, and because like charges repel, the hairs push each other apart and stand on end. A polythene rod rubbed with a duster behaves the same way, gaining electrons from the duster and being left negative.
What earns the marks
- Electrons being transferred onto the object.
- The object then holding more electrons than protons, so more negative than positive charge.
- Every hair, or every part of the object, carrying the same negative charge.
- Like charges repelling, so that the hairs move apart.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Saying the student becomes positively charged when electrons are added, which is not accepted.
Explaining the hair standing up by attraction to the dome rather than repulsion between the hairs.
Claiming the object gains negative charge by losing protons.
Saying the object is negative because electricity flowed into it, without naming electrons.
Exam tips
- Answer the hair question in three steps: electrons transferred, all hairs negative, like charges repel.
- Check the sign in the stem, because if the dome is negative the student becomes negative too.
- Write 'more electrons than protons' to show you understand what negatively charged means.
Try the lesson
The start of the Static charge: The material that gains electrons becomes negatively charged. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
A student rubs a plastic rod with a dry cloth, causing the rod to gain electrons. What happens to the overall electrical charge of the plastic rod?
Listen
A neutral object holds as many electrons as protons, so the charges cancel. Add electrons and that balance breaks: there are now more negative charges than positive ones and the object is negatively charged overall. The size of the charge depends on how many extra electrons it holds, and it stays charged until those electrons can flow away. This is what happens to a student touching the dome of a static generator: electrons are transferred onto her, every hair on her head gains the same negative charge, and because like charges repel, the hairs push each other apart and stand on end. A polythene rod rubbed with a duster behaves the same way, gaining electrons from the duster and being left negative. A strong answer earns marks for these points. electrons being transferred onto the object. the object then holding more electrons than protons, so more negative than positive charge. every hair, or every part of the object, carrying the same negative charge. like charges repelling, so that the hairs move apart. Exam tip: Answer the hair question in three steps: electrons transferred, all hairs negative, like charges repel.
See it
Put it in order
Put these steps in the order they happen.
- 1. Hairs push each other apart and stand on end
- 2. Like charges repel
- 3. More electrons than protons
- 4. Every hair carries the same negative charge
- 5. Neutral object: electrons equal protons
- 6. Electrons transferred onto the object
- 7. Object is negatively charged overall
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
negative charge
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
like charges repel
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
neutral object
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- negative charge
- An object is negatively charged when it holds more electrons than protons, so more negative than positive charge.
- like charges repel
- Charges of the same sign push each other apart, so every hair carrying the same negative charge moves away from the others.
- neutral object
- An object that holds as many electrons as protons, so the charges cancel.
Label the diagram
Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.
1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3
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