Electricity Basics & Static Charge
📋 What it is
Electricity is moving electric charge; static charge builds up when charges are rubbed apart.
🗣️ Coach says
Everything is made of atoms carrying tiny charges. When charges are pushed apart (like rubbing a balloon on hair) you get STATIC — a build-up that jumps as a spark. When charges FLOW steadily through a wire, that’s an electric current — the electricity that powers your devices.
🧠 Memory hook
Static = charge built up and stuck. Current = charge flowing. Both are just moving charge.
😂 Giggle
Why was the capacitor always getting into trouble?
It couldn't stop charging into situations!
😲 Whoa!
A lightning bolt is just giant static electricity — up to a billion volts jumping between a cloud and the ground in a few thousandths of a second.
✅ Quick check: What’s the difference between static electricity and an electric current?
Say your answer out loud first — then reveal.
Static is charge built up and stuck in place; a current is charge flowing steadily through a conductor.
Static is stationary charge; current is charge in motion.
🧪 Try it! (2 minutes)
Rub a balloon on your hair, then hold it near small paper bits — the static charge pulls them up.