- Only electrons move - never the positive charges:
Both positive and negative charges are only ever produced by the movement of electrons, the positive charges do not move.
A positive static charge is always caused by electrons moving away.
A charged conductor can be discharged safely by connecting it to the earth with a metal strap. The electrons flow down the strap to the ground if the charge is negative and flow up the strap from the ground if the charge is positive.
- Like charges repel, opposite charges attract
- As charge builds up so does the voltage - causing sparks:
The greater the charge on an isolated object, the greater the voltage between it and the Earth. If the voltage gets big enough there's a spark which jumps across the gap.
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