MODULE 1

Lesson 1: Electric Charge

Name of Student

Grade 12 STEM
Grade & Section

ENGR. JEZER E. ILAO, ECT

Subject Teacher
I. Content Standard
The learners demonstrate an understanding of Electric charge, Insulators and conductors, Induced
charges, Coulomb’s Law, Electric forces and fields, Electric field calculations, and Charges on
conductors

II. Performance Standard

The learners are able to use theoretical and experimental approaches to solve multi-concept and
rich-context problems involving electricity and magnetism.

III. Most Essential Learning Competencies

The learners:
1. describe using a diagram charging by rubbing and charging by induction,
2. explain the role of electron transfer in electrostatic charging by rubbing, and
3. eescribe experiments to show electrostatic charging by induction.

IV. Learning Objectives

At the end of this lesson, the learners will be able to:
1. explain the three processes of charging; and
2. observe the materials given if it is belonged to conductors or insulators.

Let us Pray

““May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of
grace and may the Heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all.
Amen."

DISCUSSION

Lesson: Electric Charge

What is electric charge?

Electric charge is the physical property of matter that causes it to experience a force when placed
in an electromagnetic field. There are two types of electric charge: positive and negative (commonly carried
by protons and electrons respectively). Like charges repel each other and unlike charges attract each other.
An object with an absence of net charge is referred to as neutral. Early knowledge of how charged
substances interact is now called classical electrodynamics, and is still accurate for problems that do not
require consideration of quantum effects.

Electric charge is a conserved property; the net charge of an isolated system, the amount of positive
charge minus the amount of negative charge, cannot change. Electric charge is carried by subatomic
particles. In ordinary matter, negative charge is carried by electrons, and positive charge is carried by the
protons in the nuclei of atoms. If there are more electrons than protons in a piece of matter, it will have a
negative charge, if there are fewer it will have a positive charge, and if there are equal numbers it will be
neutral. Charge is quantized; it comes in integer multiples of individual small units called the elementary
charge, e, about 1.602×1019 coulombs, which is the smallest charge which can exist freely (particles called

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quarks have smaller charges, multiples of 1/3 e, but they are only found in combination, and always combine
to form particles with integer charge). The proton has a charge of +e, and the electron has a charge of −e.

Electric charges produce electric fields. A moving charge also produces a magnetic field. The
interaction of electric charges with an electromagnetic field (combination of electric and magnetic fields)
is the source of the electromagnetic (or Lorentz) force, which is one of the four fundamental forces in
physics. The study of photon-mediated interactions among charged particles is called quantum
electrodynamics.

Table 1.1
Properties of Proton, Neutron, and Electron

Sub-atomic particle Location Mass Charge

proton Inside nucleus 1.673 x 10-27 kg 1.602 x 10-19 C
neutron Inside nucleus 1.675 x 10-27 kg 0
electron Around nucleus 9.109 x 10-31 kg -1.602 x 10-19 C

The SI derived unit of electric charge is the coulomb (C) named after French physicist Charles-
Augustin de Coulomb. In electrical engineering, it is also common to use the ampere hour (Ah); in physics
and chemistry, it is common to use the elementary charge (e as a unit). Chemistry also uses the Faraday
constant as the charge on a mole of electrons. The lowercase symbol q often denotes charge.

An electric field (sometimes E-field is the physical field that surrounds each electric charge and
exerts force on all other charges in the field, either attracting or repelling them. Electric fields originate
from electric charges, or from time-varying magnetic fields. Electric fields and magnetic fields are both
manifestations of the electromagnetic force, one of the four fundamental forces (or interactions) of nature.

Electric fields are important in many areas of physics, and are exploited practically in electrical
technology. In atomic physics and chemistry, for instance, the electric field is used to model the attractive
force holding the atomic nucleus and electrons together in atoms. It also models the forces in chemical
bonding between atoms that result in molecules. The electric field is defined mathematically as a vector
field that associates to each point in space the (electrostatic or Coulomb) force per unit of charge exerted
on an infinitesimal positive test charge at rest at that point. The derived SI units for the electric field are
volts per meter (V/m), exactly equivalent to Newton’s per coulomb (N/C).

Electrostatic induction, also known as "electrostatic influence" or simply "influence" in Europe

and Latin America, is a redistribution of electric charge in an object, caused by the influence of nearby
charges. In the presence of a charged body, an insulated conductor develops a positive charge on one end
and a negative charge on the other end. Due to induction, the electrostatic potential (voltage) is constant at
any point throughout a conductor. Electrostatic Induction is also responsible for the attraction of light
nonconductive objects, such as balloons, paper or Styrofoam scraps, to static electric charges. Electrostatic
induction laws apply in dynamic situations as far as the quasistatic approximation is valid. Electrostatic
induction should not be confused with Electromagnetic induction.

A normal uncharged piece of matter has equal numbers of positive and negative electric charges in
each part of it, located close together, so no part of it has a net electric charge. The positive charges are the
atoms' nuclei which are bound into the structure of matter and are not free to move. The negative charges
are the atoms' electrons. In electrically conductive objects such as metals, some of the electrons are able to
move freely about in the object.

When a charged object is brought near an uncharged, electrically conducting object, such as a piece
of metal, the force of the nearby charge due to Coulomb's law causes a separation of these internal charges.

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For example, if a positive charge is brought near the, the electrons in the metal will be attracted toward it
and move to the side of the object facing it. When the electrons move out of an area, they leave an
unbalanced positive charge due to the nuclei. This results in a region of negative charge on the object nearest
to the external charge, and a region of positive charge on the part away from it. These are called induced
charges. If the external charge is negative, the polarity of the charged regions will be reversed.

Since this process is just a redistribution of the charges that were already in the object, it doesn't
change the total charge on the object; it still has no net charge. This induction effect is reversible; if the
nearby charge is removed, the attraction between the positive and negative internal charges causes them to
intermingle again.

The sign of the charge left on the electroscope after grounding is always opposite in
sign to the external inducing charge. The two rules of induction are:
1. If the object is not grounded, the nearby charge will induce equal and opposite charges in the object.
2. If any part of the object is momentarily grounded while the inducing charge is near, a charge
opposite in polarity to the inducing charge will be attracted from ground into the object, and it will
be left with a charge opposite to the inducing charge.

Conductors

Some materials let electricity pass through them easily. These materials are known as electrical
conductors.

That is why the parts of electrical objects that need to let electricity pass through are always made
of metal. Metal is used in plugs to allow electricity to transfer from the wall socket, through the plug, and
into a device such as a radio or TV.

In a light bulb, the metal filament conducts electricity and causes the light bulb to light up.

Insulators

Some materials do not allow electricity to pass through them. These materials are known as
electrical insulators.

Plastic, wood, glass and rubber are good electrical insulators. That is why they are used to cover
materials that carry electricity.

The plastic covering that surrounds wires is an electrical insulator. It stops you from getting an
electrical shock.

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 Semiconductors are intermediate between conductors and insulators. These are not as conductive
as metals, but they are more conductive than insulators such as rubber, plastic, and mica. The conductivity
of a semiconductor in its pure form is very low. Atoms of different elements in every amount are added to
pure semiconductors to improve their conductivity.

Superconductors offer practically no resistance to the flow of charges below some critical
temperatures. A current in a superconductor can keep flowing without any decay. Most superconductor
only work at temperatures close to absolute zero.

Processes of Charging

The number of protons and electrons in an atom is equal; hence, an atom is neutral. However, it
becomes an atom may gain or lose electrons. If the atom gains electron; it becomes negatively charged; if
it loses electrons, it becomes positively charged. There are three processes by which a neutral body may be
charged. There are charging by friction, conduction, and induction.

1. Charging by Friction

Charging by friction results when two different materials are rubbed together. The material that will
either become positively charged or negatively charged depends on its electron affinity. Electron affinity is
a measure of the attraction of an atom to an atom, or the tendency of an atom to become negatively charged.

2. Charging by Conduction

Charging by conduction requires physical contact between a charging body and a neutral body. The
sign of the charge acquired by the neutral body is the same with that of the charged body. A neutral body
becomes positively charged when charged by a positively charged body. Likewise, it becomes negatively
charged when charged by a negatively charged body.

3. Charging by induction

A neutral body may be also charged without physical contact with a charged body. This process is
called induction. In induction, the body to be charged is brought very near the charging body. The negative
charges on a neutral body are attracted toward the charging body if the latter is positive. They are repelled
from the charging body if it is negatively charged. This effect is known as polarization. The neutral body
is then grounded either by touching it or using a wire.

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 ACTIVITY
Electric Circuits – Conductors and Insulators

Part 1. Look at the materials below. Do you think connecting them to an electric circuit tester will make
the light bulb turn on? Check “yes” or “no” then, test your prediction with the materials. Record your actual
results.

1. What type of materials were able to conduct electricity?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
2. What type of materials were NOT able to conduct electricity?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
3. When electricity moves easily through an object, we call it a(n) ___________________.

4. When electricity does not move easily through an object, we call it a(n)_____________.

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Part 2. Explain the following processes:
A. Charging by Friction

B. Charging by Conduction

C. Charging by Induction

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References:
WEST PRIME HORIZON INSTITUTE, INC. V. Sagun cor. M. Roxas St. San Francisco Dist., Pagadian
City

Prepared by:

ENG. JEZER E. ILAO, ECT

Subject Teacher

Noted and reviewed by:

MS. VERNADETH B. TORALBA, LPT

Academic Chairperson, Senior High School

Approved by:

MARY JANE D. CASTILLO, LPT, PH.D.

Principal, Basic Education

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