The Electrical Nature of Matter

1
The Electrical Nature of Matter

• Atoms in matter always contain electric charges.
  You cannot create or destroy electric charges,
  but you can move them around.

2

• There are two types of electric charge positive
  and negative.
• When chargers are forced to move from their
  normal positions, say by being rubbed together,
  we say they become charged with electricity.

3

• Since these charges remain stationary (in one
  spot) on the surface of the charged object, it is
  called static electricity.

4

• Think of three situations where rubbing things
  together makes them become charged
• 1.
• 2.
• 3.

5

• An object is uncharged when it has the same
  number of positive and negative charges.
• If it has extra negatives (electrons) it will be
  negatively charged, and if it has extra positives
  (protons) it will be positively charged.

6
The Law of Electric Charges

• Like charges repel.
• Unlike charges attract.
• Most charged objects also attract neutral ones.