Fiducia TogetherStatic electricity
Charge that stays put, and why it makes things attract or spark.
Please note: This page explains a word or a process in education. It is general information about the system, the law and the guidance in England — not advice about your child, your school or your exam. If a decision is going against you, get advice from one of the free services we link to before you agree to anything or miss a deadline. If you are revising, check your own exam board's specification: boards word things differently and yours is the one that marks you.
What it is
Static electricity is a build-up of charge on an insulator, caused by friction transferring electrons.
Where it applies
GCSE physics, and not on all combined science specifications.
How it works
Electrons move; positive charges do not. An object becomes negatively charged by GAINING electrons and positively charged by losing them.
Like charges repel, opposite attract, and a charged object attracts an uncharged one by induction. A spark happens when the potential difference is large enough to ionise the air.
How to use it in your work
Always explain charging in terms of electrons moving, never protons.
Say which object gained and which lost.
For applications, name one use and one hazard — photocopiers and spray painting; refuelling and lightning.
Where to get help
Your teacher and your board's specification and mark scheme.
Revise this with a song
These are ours. We write revision songs because a lot of people remember a tune when they cannot remember a page, and because revising out loud in the kitchen beats staring at a highlighter.
- The Physics Song The GCSE physics specification, set to music.
Where to read more
Last reviewed 2026-08-28 by Fiducia Together · Next review due 2027-08-28
Please note: This page explains a word or a process in education. It is general information about the system, the law and the guidance in England — not advice about your child, your school or your exam. If a decision is going against you, get advice from one of the free services we link to before you agree to anything or miss a deadline. If you are revising, check your own exam board's specification: boards word things differently and yours is the one that marks you.