Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 1
ELECTROSTA TICS
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ELECTROSTA TICS
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Subject: Physics
Class: SHS 1
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 7
Grade code: 1.3.1.LI.2
Strand code: 3
Sub-strand code: 1
Content standard code: 1.3.1.CS.1
Indicator code: 1.3.1.LI.2
Theme: ELECTRIC FIELD, MAGNETIC FIELD AND ELECTRONICS
Subtheme: ELECTROSTA TICS
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Welcome, students! Have you ever felt a small, sharp shock when you touched a metal doorknob, especially during the dry harmattan season? Or have you seen a balloon stick to a wall after rubbing it on your hair? These are not magic; they are examples of static electricity at work. Today, we are going to explore the tiny, invisible particle responsible for these effects and for powering all our electrical gadgets, from our phones to the lights in our homes. We will learn about the electron and understand why its ability to move is one of the most important concepts in all of physics and technology.
A. The Atom: The Building Block of Everything
Everything around us—your desk, your pen, the air we breathe, and even our bodies—is made up of tiny particles called atoms. An atom is the smallest unit of an element that still has the properties of that element.
An atom itself is made of even smaller particles: Protons: Found in the centre (nucleus) of the atom. They have a positive (+) electric charge. Neutrons: Also in the nucleus. They have no charge (they are neutral). Electrons: Orbit the nucleus in shells or energy levels. They have a negative (-) electric charge.
Key Point: In a neutral atom, the number of protons is equal to the number of electrons. The positive charges of the protons perfectly balance the negative charges of the electrons, so the atom has an overall charge of zero.