Static Electricity

This lesson covers static electricity — the build-up and transfer of electric charge on insulating materials — as required by AQA GCSE Combined Science Trilogy (8464, section 6.2.1). While static electricity does not flow like current electricity, it is an important topic that connects to the fundamental concepts of charge.

---

What Is Static Electricity?

Static electricity is the build-up of electric charge on the surface of an object. Unlike current electricity (where charge flows continuously through a conductor), static charge stays stationary on the surface of an insulator — it does not flow away because insulators do not allow charge to move freely.

---

How Does Static Charge Build Up?

Static electricity is produced by friction — when two insulating materials are rubbed together. During rubbing:

1. Electrons are transferred from one material to the other.
2. The material that gains electrons becomes negatively charged.
3. The material that loses electrons becomes positively charged.

Important: It is only electrons that move. Protons are fixed in the nucleus of atoms and cannot be transferred by rubbing.

Example: Rubbing a Polythene Rod with a Cloth