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Static charge - Teacher Slides.pptx
The lesson slides with the teacher's notes on each slide, and every question and mark scheme built in. Built from the lesson script on 30 September 2026.
AQA GCSE PHYSICS · PAPER 1 · FOUNDATION & HIGHER
Static charge
Electricity
Lesson 9 of 10
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AQA GCSE PHYSICS · PAPER 1 · FOUNDATION & HIGHER
Warm-up
Electricity
Lesson 9 of 10
Answer each one, then check.
1
What charge do electrons have?
2
What is an insulator?
3
What is a non-contact force?
4
What charge does a proton have?
5
Like charges...
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AQA GCSE PHYSICS · PAPER 1 · FOUNDATION & HIGHER
Warm-up - Answers
Electricity
Lesson 9 of 10
1
What charge do electrons have?
Negative
2
What is an insulator?
A material that does not conduct electricity
3
What is a non-contact force?
A force between objects that are not touching
4
What charge does a proton have?
Positive
5
Like charges...
Repel
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AQA GCSE PHYSICS · PAPER 1 · FOUNDATION & HIGHER
Learning Objectives
Electricity
Lesson 9 of 10
1
Describe the production of static electricity by rubbing.
2
Explain charging in terms of the transfer of electrons.
3
Describe evidence that charged objects exert non-contact forces.
4
Explain sparking.
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AQA GCSE PHYSICS · PAPER 1 · FOUNDATION & HIGHER
Electricity
Lesson 9 of 10
STATIC ELECTRICITY
When insulating materials are rubbed together, electrons are transferred: the material that gains electrons becomes negatively charged and the one that loses them is left with an equal positive charge.
Objects with the same type of charge repel; objects with different types of charge attract.
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AQA GCSE PHYSICS · PAPER 1 · FOUNDATION & HIGHER
Charging by Rubbing
Electricity
Lesson 9 of 10

Only electrons move; protons stay in the nuclei.
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AQA GCSE PHYSICS · PAPER 1 · FOUNDATION & HIGHER
Explaining Charging
Electricity
Lesson 9 of 10
Explain why a polythene rod becomes negatively charged when rubbed with a cloth.
1
Friction
Rubbing transfers energy so electrons can move
2
Electrons move
Negatively charged electrons are rubbed off the cloth and on to the rod
3
The rod
Gains electrons, so it becomes negatively charged
4
The cloth
Loses electrons and is left with an equal positive charge
ANSWER
Electrons transfer from the cloth to the rod; the rod becomes negative and the cloth positive.
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AQA GCSE PHYSICS · PAPER 1 · FOUNDATION & HIGHER
Sparking
Electricity
Lesson 9 of 10
Explain how a spark can jump from a charged object to an earthed conductor.
1
Charge builds
A large amount of charge collects on the object
2
Strong field
The electric field between the object and the conductor becomes very strong
3
Air ionises
The air becomes ionised and conducts, so charge flows as a spark
ANSWER
Charge builds up until the field is strong enough to make air conduct, and the charge flows as a spark.
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AQA GCSE PHYSICS · PAPER 1 · FOUNDATION & HIGHER
Evidence of Non-Contact Forces
Electricity
Lesson 9 of 10
Repulsion
Two charged rods of the same charge push each other apart.
Attraction
A charged rod attracts small pieces of paper or a stream of water.
Hanging balls
Suspended charged balls move apart or together without touching.
Balloon on a wall
A rubbed balloon can stick to a wall.
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AQA GCSE PHYSICS · PAPER 1 · FOUNDATION & HIGHER
Common Mistakes
Electricity
Lesson 9 of 10
Be precise.
Only electrons move
Positive charges (protons) are fixed in the nucleus and do not move when rubbed.
Insulators
Only insulators keep the charge; a metal rod held in the hand loses its charge.
Say gained or lost
Say 'gained electrons', not 'gained negative charge'.
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AQA GCSE PHYSICS · PAPER 1 · FOUNDATION & HIGHER
Key Terms
Electricity
Lesson 9 of 10
Static electricity
Charge that builds up on an insulator.
Electron
A negatively charged particle.
Non-contact force
A force between objects that are not touching.
Earthing
Connecting to the ground so charge can flow away.
Repel
Push apart.
Attract
Pull together.
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AQA GCSE PHYSICS · PAPER 1 · FOUNDATION & HIGHER
Electricity
Lesson 9 of 10
YOUR TASK
Rub and Predict
10 minutes
A student rubs a cloth on a balloon. The balloon is then attracted to the wall. Explain what has happened to the electrons and what type of charge the balloon has.
1
Say which way electrons moved.
2
State the charge on each object.
WHAT A GOOD ANSWER SHOWS
Electrons are transferred from the cloth to the balloon. The balloon gains electrons and becomes negatively charged; it attracts the wall.
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AQA GCSE PHYSICS · PAPER 1 · FOUNDATION & HIGHER
Can I...?
Electricity
Lesson 9 of 10
Explain how rubbing makes charge.
Say which particles move.
State the charge on each object.
Describe attraction and repulsion.
Describe evidence for non-contact forces.
Explain sparking.
Explain why insulators keep charge.
Use the terms gained and lost electrons.
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AQA GCSE PHYSICS · PAPER 1 · FOUNDATION & HIGHER
Summary & Exam Focus
Rubbing insulators transfers electrons.
The material that gains electrons is negative; the one that loses electrons is positive.
Like charges repel, unlike attract.
Sparks occur when the field is strong enough to ionise air.
EXAM FOCUS
Explain how a polythene rod becomes negatively charged when rubbed with a cloth. (3 marks)
Say which way the electrons move.
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AQA GCSE PHYSICS · PAPER 1 · FOUNDATION & HIGHER
Exam Practice: Static charge
Electricity
Lesson 9 of 10
Answer all questions. Use the mark allocation as a guide to how much to write. · 16 minutes
Question 1 · 3 marks · Explain
A polythene rod is rubbed with a cloth and becomes negatively charged. Explain how the rod becomes negatively charged.
Question 2 · 3 marks · Use the diagram
The diagram shows two charged balls hanging from threads. Ball A is negatively charged. (a) State the type of charge on ball B. (b) Name…
Question 3 · 3 marks · Explain
A student walks across a nylon carpet and then gets a small electric shock when touching a metal door handle. Explain why.
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AQA GCSE PHYSICS · PAPER 1 · FOUNDATION & HIGHER
Exam Practice: Static charge (cont.)
Electricity
Lesson 9 of 10
Question 4 · 2 marks · Explain
Explain why a charged balloon can stick to a wall even though the balloon and wall do not touch.
Question 5 · 4 marks · Explain
Lightning is a very large spark. Explain how charge builds up in a cloud and what causes the lightning.
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AQA GCSE PHYSICS · PAPER 1 · FOUNDATION & HIGHER
Question 1 · 3 marks · Explain
Electricity
Lesson 9 of 10
“
A polythene rod is rubbed with a cloth and becomes negatively charged. Explain how the rod becomes negatively charged.
HOW TO ANSWER IT
Command word: Explain. Worth 3 marks, so plan before writing.
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AQA GCSE PHYSICS · PAPER 1 · FOUNDATION & HIGHER
Question 1 · mark scheme
Electricity
Lesson 9 of 10
3 marks available. Award a mark for each point made.
Electrons transferred
1 mark
From the cloth to the rod
1 mark
Rod gains electrons so it is negative
1 mark
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AQA GCSE PHYSICS · PAPER 1 · FOUNDATION & HIGHER
Question 2 · 3 marks · Use the diagram
Electricity
Lesson 9 of 10

The diagram shows two charged balls hanging from threads. Ball A is negatively charged. (a) State the type of charge on ball B. (b) Name the type of force acting between the balls. (3 marks)
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AQA GCSE PHYSICS · PAPER 1 · FOUNDATION & HIGHER
Question 2 · mark scheme
Electricity
Lesson 9 of 10
3 marks available. Award a mark for each point made.
Negative
1 mark
Because they repel (like charges)
1 mark
Non-contact force
1 mark
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AQA GCSE PHYSICS · PAPER 1 · FOUNDATION & HIGHER
Question 3 · 3 marks · Explain
Electricity
Lesson 9 of 10
“
A student walks across a nylon carpet and then gets a small electric shock when touching a metal door handle. Explain why.
HOW TO ANSWER IT
Command word: Explain. Worth 3 marks, so plan before writing.
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AQA GCSE PHYSICS · PAPER 1 · FOUNDATION & HIGHER
Question 3 · mark scheme
Electricity
Lesson 9 of 10
3 marks available. Award a mark for each point made.
Rubbing transfers electrons
1 mark
The student becomes charged
1 mark
Charge flows to earth through the handle
1 mark
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AQA GCSE PHYSICS · PAPER 1 · FOUNDATION & HIGHER
Question 4 · 2 marks · Explain
Electricity
Lesson 9 of 10
“
Explain why a charged balloon can stick to a wall even though the balloon and wall do not touch.
HOW TO ANSWER IT
Command word: Explain. Worth 2 marks, so plan before writing.
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AQA GCSE PHYSICS · PAPER 1 · FOUNDATION & HIGHER
Question 4 · mark scheme
Electricity
Lesson 9 of 10
2 marks available. Award a mark for each point made.
Non-contact force
1 mark
Attraction between charged balloon and wall
1 mark
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AQA GCSE PHYSICS · PAPER 1 · FOUNDATION & HIGHER
Question 5 · 4 marks · Explain
Electricity
Lesson 9 of 10
“
Lightning is a very large spark. Explain how charge builds up in a cloud and what causes the lightning.
HOW TO ANSWER IT
Command word: Explain. Worth 4 marks, so plan before writing.
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AQA GCSE PHYSICS · PAPER 1 · FOUNDATION & HIGHER
Question 5 · mark scheme
Electricity
Lesson 9 of 10
4 marks available. Award a mark for each point made.
Electrons transferred by collisions or friction
1 mark
Cloud charged, large pd between cloud and ground
1 mark
Strong electric field ionises the air
1 mark
Charge flows as a spark
1 mark
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