SNCID – Electricity
Name: _____________________
Electrostatic Series and Charging by Friction Review
The electrostatic series is used to determine the charge
on objects charged by friction. Objects at the top of the
electrostatic series have a weak hold on electrons and
are ‘electron givers’. These objects lose electrons and
become positively charged. Objects at the bottom of
the electrostatic series have a strong hold on
electrons and are ‘electron takers’. Objects at the
bottom of the series gain electrons and become
negatively charged. The object higher on the list always
loses electrons to the objects lower on the list.
The Electrostatic Series (Table 1 pg. 275)
acetate
glass
wool
cat’s fur, human hair
calcium, magnesium, lead
silk
aluminum, zinc
cotton
paraffin wax
ebonite
polyethylene (plastic)
carbon, copper, nickel
rubber
sulfur
Platinum, gold
Weak hold on electrons
POSITIVE CHARGE
Strong hold on electrons
NEGATIVE CHARGE
SNCID – Electricity
Think
If a piece of gold is rubbed with a piece of wool, which object loses electrons? Explain using the
electrostatic series.
The wool is at the top of the electrostatic series so will lose
electrons and have a positive charge. The gold is lower on the
electrostatic series so gold will gain electrons and have a negative
charge.
If a piece of gold is rubbed with a piece of wool, the
wool loses electrons.
The gold gains electrons. Wool is an electron giver and
gold is an electron taker.
Name one substance that will get a negative charge
when rubbed on ebonite.
Copper, rubber or gold
Name one substance that will get a positive charge
when rubbed on ebonite.
acetate, glass, wool or human hair
One piece of glass is rubbed with silk. A second piece
of glass is rubbed with a rubber balloon. What will be
the charge on both pieces of glass?
The glass will have a positive charge when rubbed
with either silk or rubber.
SNCID – Electricity
Which piece of glass will have a stronger charge and
explain why.
The glass rubbed with rubber will have a stronger
positive charge because rubber and glass are further
apart on the electrostatic series and more electrons
will transfer.
SNCID – Electricity
Electrostatic Diagrams - Silk and Plastic Example
BEFORE FRICTION
__________________________
______________________
__________________________
______________________
Charging by Friction
AFTER FRICTION
__________________________
______________________
__________________________
______________________
Choose your own two substances from the electrostatic list and draw before and after
friction electrostatic charge diagrams.
____________________ and _______________________
SNCID – Electricity
Name: _____________________
Electrostatic Series and Charging by Friction Review
Electrostatic Series
The electrostatic series is used to determine the ______________________
_______________________________________ charged by friction. Objects
at the _________________________________________________________
___________________________ and are ‘electron givers’. ______________
_________________________________________ and become positively charged. Objects at the
___________________________________________
___________________________________________________ and are
‘electron takers’. ________________________________________________
and become negatively charged. The objects higher on the list always loses
electrons to the objects lower on the list.
The Electrostatic Series (Table 1 pg. 275)
acetate
glass
wool
cat’s fur, human hair
calcium, magnesium, lead
silk
aluminum, zinc
cotton
paraffin wax
ebonite
polyethylene (plastic)
carbon, copper, nickel
rubber
sulfur
Platinum, gold
Weak hold on electrons
________________________________
Strong hold on electrons
_____________________________
SNCID – Electricity
Think
If a piece of gold is rubbed with a piece of wool, which object loses electrons? Explain using the
electrostatic series.
_____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
If a piece of gold is rubbed with a piece of wool, the wool ______________________________
______________________________________________. The gold _______________
_________________________________________________________. Wool is an
_____________________________ and gold is an __________________________________.
Name one substance that will get a negative charge when rubbed on ebonite.
_________________________________________
Name one substance that will get a positive charge when rubbed on ebonite.
____________________________________________
One piece of glass is rubbed with silk. A second piece of glass is rubbed with a rubber balloon. What
will be the charge on both pieces of glass? __________________
Which piece of glass will have a stronger charge and explain why.
______________________________________________________
Electrostatic Diagrams - Silk and Plastic Example
BEFORE FRICTION
__________________________
______________________
__________________________
______________________
Charging by Friction
SNCID – Electricity
AFTER FRICTION
__________________________
______________________
__________________________
______________________
Choose your own two substances from the electrostatic list and draw before and after
friction electrostatic charge diagrams.
____________________ and _______________________