p8 static electricity
4 detailed 50-minute lessons with teaching scripts, worked examples, parent guides, and assessment criteria.
Lesson Overview
Total Lessons: 4
Tier: Foundation and Higher
Duration: 50 minutes per lesson (200 minutes total)
Exam Boards: AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas, CCEA
Tier: Foundation and Higher
Duration: 50 minutes per lesson (200 minutes total)
Exam Boards: AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas, CCEA
Learning Objectives
- Explain the key ideas of p8 static electricity
- Apply p8 static electricity to exam-style questions
- Develop independent study skills
- Build cross-topic connections
Prerequisites
- Read the revision notes for p8 static electricity first (GCSE Revise summary)
- Key vocab to pre-teach: Static electricity, Electric field, Sparking
- Basic skills: reading the summary notes and answering the practice questions there
Materials & Equipment
- Exercise book, coloured pens
- Scientific calculator
- Ruler
- Printed revision notes (link below)
- Internet for videos (see Resources)
Lesson 1: Introduction: p8 static electricity
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Quick Recall
Write down everything you already know about p8 static electricity. Then check against the key terms: Static electricity, Electric field, Sparking. Use a mini-whiteboard or paper.
Main Content (35 minutes)
Parent/Teacher Guide:
Before lesson: Read the script below. Pre-teach key vocab: Static electricity, Electric field, Sparking.
If stuck: Re-read the revision notes (link above), then break the content into smaller steps.
Extension: See the Stretch & Challenge ideas in Lesson 4.
Before lesson: Read the script below. Pre-teach key vocab: Static electricity, Electric field, Sparking.
If stuck: Re-read the revision notes (link above), then break the content into smaller steps.
Extension: See the Stretch & Challenge ideas in Lesson 4.
Teaching Script (35 mins):
Mins 0-5 - Hook: "Today: p8 static electricity. By the end you will be able to answer exam questions on it unaided. It connects to the rest of Physics because the ideas here recur across the spec."
Mins 5-20 - Direct Instruction: Work through the core ideas below one at a time; after each, ask your student to explain it back in their own words.
Mins 20-30 - Guided Practice: Model the worked example together, then let your student attempt the first practice question with guidance.
Mins 30-35 - Independent Practice: 2-3 practice questions from Lesson 3 below, with immediate feedback.
Mins 0-5 - Hook: "Today: p8 static electricity. By the end you will be able to answer exam questions on it unaided. It connects to the rest of Physics because the ideas here recur across the spec."
Mins 5-20 - Direct Instruction: Work through the core ideas below one at a time; after each, ask your student to explain it back in their own words.
Mins 20-30 - Guided Practice: Model the worked example together, then let your student attempt the first practice question with guidance.
Mins 30-35 - Independent Practice: 2-3 practice questions from Lesson 3 below, with immediate feedback.
First Look
Start with the revision notes summary, then attempt: Foundation Explain how static electricity builds up when two insulators are rubbed together. State which particles move.
Plenary (5 minutes)
Check Out
Your student states one thing they learned and one question they still have about p8 static electricity.
Lesson 2: Core Concepts: p8 static electricity
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Review Previous Lesson
Quick recap: write 3 key points from Lesson 1 on p8 static electricity. Check them against the notes below.
Main Content (35 minutes)
Static electricity: A build-up of electric charge on the surface of an insulating material. It is caused by friction between two insulators — electrons are transferred from one material to the other.
Electric field: A region around a charged object where another charged object experiences a force. Field lines point from positive to negative charges.
Sparking: When the potential difference between a charged object and the earth (or another object) is large enough, electrons can jump across the gap, creating a spark.
By friction: When two insulating materials are rubbed together, electrons are transferred from one to the other. The material that gains electrons becomes negatively charged . The material that loses electrons becomes positively charged .
Like charges repel. Unlike charges attract.: Two positive charges repel; two negative charges repel; a positive and negative charge attract.
Electric field: The region around a charged object where a force is exerted on other charged objects. The field is strongest close to the charge.
| Term | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Point charge (positive) | Radial field around a single positive charge | Point outwards from the charge in all directions |
| Point charge (negative) | Radial field around a single negative charge | Point inwards towards the charge from all directions |
| Parallel plates | Uniform field between two charged plates | Straight parallel lines from positive plate to negative plate |
| Lightning | Charge builds up in clouds. When PD is large enough, a spark (lightning) discharges to the ground | Lightning conductors provide a safe path to earth |
| Refuelling aircraft | Friction during refuelling can build up static charge. A spark could ignite fuel vapour | The aircraft is earthed before refuelling so charge cannot build up |
| Petrol stations | Static charge on a person or the fuel pipe could spark and ignite fuel vapour | Earthing the fuel pipe, keeping the nozzle in contact with the car |
| Flammable factories | Static build-up on machinery or workers could cause sparks | Anti-static clothing, earthing of equipment, humidifying the air |
| Photocopier | Static charge attracts toner to the image areas on a drum | 1. Charged drum exposed to light from document — charged areas where light hits are discharged. 2. Dark areas (image) remain charged and attract oppositely charged toner. 3. Toner transferred to paper and fixed with heat. |
Practice (10 minutes)
Q: Foundation Explain how static electricity builds up when two insulators are rubbed together. State which particles move.
Answer: When two insulators are rubbed together, friction transfers electrons from one material to the other. The material that gains electrons becomes negatively charged; the material that loses electrons becomes positively charged. Only electrons move — protons do not move because they are in the nucleus.
Plenary (5 minutes)
Explain Back
Your student teaches the key points back to you without looking. Fill any gaps immediately.
Lesson 3: Application: p8 static electricity
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Quick Recall
Recall the key terms: Static electricity, Electric field, Sparking. Define each in one sentence.
Main Content (35 minutes)
Parent/Teacher Guide: Let your student attempt each question alone first, then compare with the model answer. Award method marks for correct working even if the final answer is wrong.
Q1: Foundation Explain how static electricity builds up when two insulators are rubbed together. State which particles move.
Answer: When two insulators are rubbed together, friction transfers electrons from one material to the other. The material that gains electrons becomes negatively charged; the material that loses electrons becomes positively charged. Only electrons move — protons do not move because they are in the nucleus.
Q2: Foundation State the rule for attraction and repulsion of charges. Give one example of each.
Answer: Like charges repel, unlike charges attract. Repulsion example: two negatively charged balloons pushed close together will repel each other. Attraction example: a negatively charged balloon and a positively charged duster will attract each other.
Q3: Foundation Explain what earthing means and why it is used when refuelling aircraft.
Answer: Earthing means connecting the object to the ground with a conducting wire. When an aircraft is earthed before refuelling, any static charge that builds up flows safely to the ground through the earth wire. This prevents charge building up to a dangerous level where a spark could jump and ignite fuel vapour.
Q4: Higher Describe the electric field around a single positive charge. State how the field lines show the direction of force and the strength of the field.
Answer: The electric field around a positive point charge is a radial field. The field lines point outwards from the charge in all directions (away from positive). The direction of the field lines shows the direction of the force on a positive charge placed in the field. The closer the field lines are to each other (near the charge), the stronger the field. Further away, the field lines spread out and the field gets weaker.
Q5: Higher Explain how an electrostatic paint sprayer gives a more even coat than a conventional sprayer. Refer to charge, repulsion and attraction in your answer.
Answer: In an electrostatic sprayer, the paint droplets are given a static charge as they leave the nozzle. Because like charges repel, the charged droplets repel each other and spread out into a fine, even mist. The target (e.g. a car body) is earthed, so the oppositely charged droplets are attracted to it. This means paint wraps around the target, reaching the back and edges, giving a more even coat with less waste.
Q6: Higher A factory produces flammable solvents. Suggest two ways to reduce the risk of a static spark causing a fire, and explain how each works.
Answer: 1) Earth all machinery and containers — this provides a conducting path to the ground so static charge cannot build up; any charge flows safely away. 2) Humidify the air — water vapour in the air helps charge to leak away from charged surfaces, preventing large build-ups of static charge. Both methods reduce the risk of a spark that could ignite the flammable solvent vapour.
Plenary (5 minutes)
Error Review
Review any questions answered incorrectly. Identify whether the error was knowledge, method, or reading the question.
Lesson 4: Exam Practice: p8 static electricity
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Command Words
Review what these command words require: state (one point), describe (say what happens), explain (say why), compare (both sides), evaluate (judgement).
Main Content (35 minutes)
Extended Answer
Extended question: Extended Answer 6 marks: Explain the dangers of static electricity during the refuelling of an aircraft and how earthing prevents these dangers. <div class="
During refuelling, fuel flows through the pipe at high speed. Friction between the fuel and the pipe causes electrons to transfer, building up static charge on the fuel and the aircraft body. If the aircraft is not earthed, this charge cannot flow away and the potential difference between the aircraft and the ground increases. If the potential difference becomes large enough, electrons can jump across the gap between the aircraft and the fuel nozzle or the ground. This creates a spark, which ionises the air and allows a sudden flow of charge. Fuel vapour is highly flammable, so the spark could ignite it, causing a fire or explosion. Earthing prevents this by connecting the aircraft to the ground with a conducting wire before refuelling begins. This provides a path for any static charge to flow safely to the ground, preventing charge from building up to a dangerous level. The fuel nozzle is also bonded to the aircraft so there is no potential difference between them, eliminating the risk of a spark. Mark scheme: 1 mark — friction causes charge build-up during refuelling, 1 mark — charge builds up if not earthed / PD increases, 1 mark — large PD causes a spark, 1 mark — spark ignites
Exam Tips: When explaining static charge, always mention electrons transferring — never say "positive charges move" because protons stay in the nucleus. | "Gains electrons = negative, loses electrons = positive" — memorise this. | For dangers of static, always explain: friction causes charge build-up → large PD → spark → ignites flammable substance . | For earthing: it provides a conducting path to the ground so charge can flow away safely. | In electric field questions: field lines go from + to - , and they show the force on a positive test charge. | For photocopier/sprayer questions, use the terms: charge, attract, repel, earth — and explain the process step by step. | If asked to draw field lines be
Common Errors: Watch Out! 1. Wrong: Positive charges move during static charging Correct: Only electrons move — protons are fixed in the nucleus. A positive charge is caused by losing electrons, not by positive charges moving 2. Wrong: Static charge is "created" when objects are rubbed Correct: Charge is conserved — electrons are transferred from one object to another. The total charge remains the same; no charge is created or destroyed 3. Wrong: Conductors can hold static charge Correct: Conductors allow charge to flow away, so they cannot hold static charge. Only insulators can hold static charge because electrons cannot move through the material
AO3 - Reasoning & Interpretation: Analysis and Evaluation A factory produces flammable solvents. Workers wear overalls, and machinery mixes the solvents in metal vats. The factory has the following data: Condition Relative humidity Static incident rate (per month) Winter (heating on) 25% 8 Summer (windows open) 60% 2 After humidifiers installed 55% 1 (a) Explain the relationship between humidity and the rate of static incidents shown in the data. (b) The factory manager proposes two safety measures: (1) earth all metal vats and (2) require anti-static overalls. Evaluate which measure is more effective at reducing spark risk and why. (c) A worker suggests wearing insulating rubber-soled shoes to prevent electric shock. Explai
Stretch & Challenge (Grade 8-9):
- Synoptic links: explain how p8 static electricity connects to another Physics topic you have studied
- Real-world: research one real-world use or example of p8 static electricity
- Critical: "What are the limitations of the models used in p8 static electricity?"
Plenary (5 minutes)
Assessment Criteria
- Got it: Confident explanation + correct worked examples
- Getting there: Main points OK, needs support with detail
- Not yet: Confused on key concepts - re-run Lesson 2
Homework & Consolidation
- Consolidation: Re-answer any Lesson 3 practice questions answered incorrectly (20 mins)
- Retrieval: Write flashcards for the key terms: Static electricity, Electric field, Sparking (10 mins)
- Exam practice: One past-paper question on p8 static electricity from the board websites (15 mins)
- Extension: Explain p8 static electricity to someone else in your own words (10 mins)