To begin our electricity unit, we explored the effects of static electricity. Doing so, I can say that I have a better understanding of it. To demonstrate, here are three different things that I’ve learnt.
- During this chapter, I learnt more about atoms and what finds itself inside of each atom. More specifically, protons, electrons and neutrons. What I learnt about each of these is their charges and their locations. Also, their reactions to certain things.
- One of the most important things, in my opinion was learning about the laws of static electricity. Learning this has thought me why certain materials will react differently with each other. And here is why; Like charges repel, opposite charges, as well as neutral ones, attract and each other.
- The difference between an insulator and a conductor. Basically the two do have quite a few differences, but being categorized as one of the two can mean one thing, how the electrons choose to move through them. For example, an insulator is a material that does not let electrons move so freely through them. Some insulators would be materials like fur, paper and cotton. And as for the conductors, they’re pretty much the opposite. They let electrons move freely through them. Some examples for conductors would be materials like metal, aluminum and copper.
During this chapter I learnt that static electricity has been the foundation for modern electricity. And one of my favorite experiments that helped me realize that was the Static Discovery Lab. In my opinion, this was the perfect introduction to static electricity. It gave us the opportunity to experiment with different materials and their static reaction. It was really helpful in that sense. I felt like I was starting to understand why the different materials were having their different effects. Before hand, I hadn’t really understood the concept of static electricity. Now I can say that I can.