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Electrical charges

+ +

Attraction and repulsion


- +
Charge It
How does a neutral object react to a charged
object?
I place several pieces of paper on the desk.
I rub a glass rod with wool.
I move the rod close to the pieces of paper.
I observe that the rod attracts the pieces.
I repeat steps 2 and 3 using the ebonite rod.
Conclusion
When we rub a glass rod on the wool, the rod
gives electrons to the wool. The rod becomes
positively charged.
When we rub an ebonite rod on the wool, the
rod takes electrons from the wool. The rod
becomes negatively charged.

Werub
rub ebonite
We
wool
Gaining and losing electrons
Atoms of some objects hold their outer electrons
more loosely than others.
Glass hold electrons more loosely than wool and
wool hold electrons more loosely than ebonite.
Rubbing removes electrons from glass to wool. The
protons in glass remain in place. Glass, that loses
electrons, becomes positively charged.
Rubbing removes electrons from wool to ebonite.
Ebonite, that gains electrons, becomes negativeley
charged.
Explanation
A small piece of paper is neutral. It contains
positive charges as much as negative
charges.
Positive charges on a rubbed glass rod
attract the negative charges on the paper.
Negative charges on a rubbed ebonite rod
attract the positive charges on the paper.
Two charges with the same sign repel
The two rods are charged positively.
A positive charge repels another positive
charge.

Glass rods rubbed with wool

Repulsion +
+
Repulsion of electric charges
A positive charge repels another positive
charge.
+ Repulsion +

A negative charge repels another negative


charge.
- Repulsion -
Repulsion of electric charges
The charges repel.

+ Repulsion +

- Repulsion -
Attraction of electric charges
Two charges with the same sign attract.

+ -
Attraction

The unit of the electric charge is coulomb,


symbol C.
Attraction of electric charges
The charges attract each other.

+ -
Attraction
Electric force between two charges
You have seen in chemistry that:
Any atom, that loses electrons, becomes a
positive ion.
Electric charge of positive ion, or positively
charged object, is a multiple of the proton
charge (p+ = + 1,6 X 10-19 C).
Any atom, that gains electrons, becomes a
negative ion.
Electric charge of negative ion, or negatively
charged object, is a multiple of the electron
charge (e- = - 1,6 X 10-19 C).
Electric force between two charges
Between two electric charges q and q, there is an
electric force. We can calculate this force by using
Coulombs formula.
9 q q
Coulombs Formula F 9 10
r2
q and q are the charges values in coulombs (C) without sign.
r is the distance between the two charges in meters (m).
F is the force value in newtons (N).

F r F
+q +q
Example
The ionic bond between the ions Na+ and Cl-
is an electric force between two opposite
electric charges.
What is the electric charge q of sodium ion?
What is the electric charge q of chloride ion?
Calculate the value of this electric force?
Given :
The distance between the two ions is 276 pm
(1 pm = 1 picometer = 10-12 m).
Electron charge = -1.6 x 10-19 C.
Aswers
Sodium ion has 11 protons et 10 electrons. It has
one more proton.
Its charge q = +1.6 x 10-19 C.
Chloride ion has 17 protons et 18 electrons. It has
one more electron.
Its charge is q = -1.6 x 10-19 C.
Electric force 9 q q
F 9 10
r2
(1.6 10 19 ) (1.6 10 19 )
F 9 10 9

(276 10 12 )2

Electric force F = (N = newton)


Problems
1. Two electric charges + 2 C and -0.5 C are
2mm apart.
a) Calculate the electric force that exist
between these two charges.
b) Is this force an attraction or repulsion?
Explain.
Problems
2. The two ions Ca2+ and O2- bond together by
ionic bond. They are 240 pm apart.
calculate the charge of each ion if the electron
charge is -1.6 x 10-19 C.
Calculate the electric force that define this
ionic bond (1 pm = 10-12 m).
Answers
1. (2) (0.5)
F = 9 109 = 2.25 10 3
N
(2 10 )
- 3 2

The electric force is attractive. The two charges have


opposite signs.

2. Charge of Calcium ion = 2 x (+1.6 x10-19)


= +3.2x 10-19 C
Charge of Oxide ion = 2 x (-1.6 x10-19)
= -3,2 x 10-19 C
electric force F =
Did you know?
A conductor is a substance that allows
charges to move freely. Examples :
Copper, aluminum, iron
These metals hold their electrons loosely.
Electrons are the charges that move through
metals.
An insulator is a substance that does not
allow charges to move through it. Examples :
Glass, ebonite, wood
These insulators hold tightly their electrons.

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