Electrical Charges

Part 3

Grounding

By: Alfi

Methods of Charging: Grounding- the removable charge

Grounding is the process of the removing the excess charge of an object by means of the transfer of electrons between it. If an object is grounded, it’s connected by wire to earth. A ground is simply an object that serves as a seemingly infinite reservoir of electrons.

For example, we have a negatively charged electroscope that has excess of electrons. If the charge is removed, it will lose its excess electrons. Then it has equal numbers of protons and electrons within the object. To remove the excess electrons in the negatively charged electroscope, the electroscope will connect to another object to receive electrons. If the person touches the electroscope, then the excess electrons leave the electroscope.

The process works because excess electrons find each other repulsive. The repulsive affects between like-charged electrons forces them to separate themselves from each other. it’s achieved by moving to a larger object that allows a greater surface area over to spread. Because the relative size of a person compared to a typical electroscope are capable of reducing forces by moving to a person.

Another example, we have a positively charged electroscope that must gain electrons to get equal number of protons and neutrons. To gain electrons from the ground, the electroscope will have a balance of charge and therefore be neutral and the process will be down when the electroscope attracts electrons from the ground.

The Need for a Conducting Pathway

We have 2 taping straws to a charged aluminum plate. One straw is covered with aluminum foil and the other straw is bare plastic. When aluminum-covered straw is touched, it loses charge. But when the plastic straw is touched, the grounding does not occur. The plastic is served as an insulator and prevents flow and prevents flow of electrons going into the aluminum plate.