Atoms and Electricity

How long have people known about electricity?

1600: William Gilbert invented the term electricity

1930-40s: Electrical appliances introduced into most homes

Mains powered radios, vacuum cleaners, irons and fridges were becoming part of every household.

1800: Volta – Developed the first battery

600BC: Static electricitydiscoveredThales, a Greek, found that amber that was rubbed with silk attracted feathers. He had discovered static electricity.

600 300 100 200 500 800 1100 1400 1700 2005BC Today

1752: Benjamin Franklin proved that lightning is a form of electricity

Here are a few of the main events!

Atoms

Atoms are the basic building blocks of matter that make up everyday objects.

How big are atoms? What things do you think are made of

atoms? A desk, the air, even you are made up of

atoms! There are 90 naturally occurring kinds of

atoms. Scientists in labs have been able to make about 25 more.

What are atoms made of?

Proton + Positive charge

neutron

nucleusElectrons - Negative charge

Normally, theNumber = Number

of ofProtons Electrons

The atom has no charge

What can happen when atoms collide?Before: 2 protons, 2 electrons

No charge

After: 2 protons, 3 electronsNegative Charge

After: 3 protons, 2 electronsPositive charge

Before: 3 protons, 3 electronsNo charge

Before: 2 protons, 2 electronsNo charge

Before: 3 protons, 3 electronsNo charge

What do atoms have to do with electricity?

Most often we think of electricity as

the current that runs through wires

that you plug into the wall. However,

electricity affects things without wires.

Static electricity is a buildup of

electrical charge that occurs when

electrons are transferred to another atom.

Static electricity

What are some examples of static electricity?

Balloons rubbed with wool cloth

Another example of static electricity: Lightning

Before a storm, moisture, in the form of water vapor, rises from the ground. The rising moisture and falling ice particles in the cloud rub together.

The bottom of a storm cloud becomes negatively charged as electrons are transferred from the moisture to the ice.

The ground has a positive charge

The negative charge needs to find somplace to be released. The closest positive charge is the ground.

The negative charge is discharged, or released,to the ground in the form of lightning

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