Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 2
ELECTROSTATICS
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ELECTROSTATICS
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Subject: Physics
Class: SHS 2
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 2
Grade code: 2.3.1.LI.2
Strand code: 3
Sub-strand code: 1
Content standard code: 2.3.1.CS.1
Indicator code: 2.3.1.LI.2
Theme: ELECTRIC FIELD, MAGNETIC FIELD AND ELECTRONICS
Subtheme: ELECTROSTATICS
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Welcome, students! We have all experienced a small electric shock when touching a metal doorknob, especially during the dry Harmattan season. We've also seen how a balloon rubbed on our hair can stick to a wall. These are examples of electrostatics – the study of stationary electric charges. Today, we are moving beyond just saying "like charges repel, unlike charges attract." We will learn how to precisely measure *how strongly* they repel or attract using a fundamental law of physics discovered by Charles-Augustin de Coulomb. This law is the foundation for understanding everything from lightning to how a photocopier works in the school's administration office.
A. Foundation: The Nature of Electrostatic Force
Before we learn the formula, let's remember the basic rule from SHS1: Like charges repel: Two positive charges will push each other away. Two negative charges will also push each other away. Unlike charges attract: A positive charge and a negative charge will pull towards each other.
This push or pull is a force. Coulomb's Law tells us exactly how strong this force is. The direction of the force is always along the straight line connecting the two charges. Repulsion (Like Charges): ``` (+) -----> (-) ``` B. Stating Coulomb's Law
Charles Coulomb, a French physicist, discovered the relationship between the force, the charges, and the distance separating them.