What is Static electricity: Definition and 122 Discussions

Static electricity is an imbalance of electric charges within or on the surface of a material. The charge remains until it is able to move away by means of an electric current or electrical discharge. Static electricity is named in contrast with current electricity, which flows through wires or other conductors and transmits energy.A static electric charge can be created whenever two surfaces contact and have worn and separated, and at least one of the surfaces has a high resistance to electric current (and is therefore an electrical insulator). The effects of static electricity are familiar to most people because people can feel, hear, and even see the spark as the excess charge is neutralized when brought close to a large electrical conductor (for example, a path to ground), or a region with an excess charge of the opposite polarity (positive or negative). The familiar phenomenon of a static shock – more specifically, an electrostatic discharge – is caused by the neutralization of charge.

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  1. N

    Static Electricity and Number of Electrons

    Homework Statement When you rub a gold sphere with rabbit's fur, the gold takes on a negative charge (and the rabbit fur positive). Suppose the gold sphere has a mass of 190.0 g and it obtains a net charge of 0.540 μC. Calculate the ratio of the number of electrons added to the gold sphere to...
  2. E

    Generation of Static Electricity

    I was wondering if and/or how one would could calculate the the generation of static electricity between 2 materials. For example material A is immersed in substance B and moves within it at a constant velocity. Knowing the velocity and volume / surface area of material A and the electron...
  3. B

    How to safely create static electricity from AC current

    Is there a simple way to "make" static electricity from an AC outlet? Looking for a way to make my hair stand (what is left of it) on its end for an experiment. Thanks for your comments in advance.
  4. B

    How can you use electricity to create static charge and bend water?

    Hello all, I watched a youtube video where you can rub a plastic tube on your hair, and the static electricity generated will pull a stream of water falling from a faucet. My question is, how would this be possible to do electrically? Meaning, using electricity or a battery powered...
  5. M

    Static electricity and circuit breakers

    Hi I have seen electric technicians while racking out high tension circuit breakers, use a wire that has one end grounded and they use the other end to touch the bus bars on the breaker in case of a static charger, they carry out this procedure before they do any work on the CB in case they...
  6. G

    Static electricity - Quantity of charge induced.

    Hi all, Let us say I have rubbed cat fur with nylon. Is there any relation for determining the amount of charge (in Coulombs) induced on either of the materials? Thanks in advance.
  7. L

    Questions about static electricity in automobiles

    So, I don't want to disclose why I want to know about this because its to do with a friends invention and it would be unfair to publish too much information without his consent. That's my disclosure so to speak. I'm interested in how static electricity is managed in vehicles. I remember...
  8. T

    Static Electricity: Positive & Negative Charges

    Homework Statement Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution i chose positive and negative but i am not sure.
  9. B

    Creating static electricity from an electrical current

    Is it possible to use an electrical current (from mains electricity) to create static electricity on a conductive surface (that is not earthed) without the two coming into direct contact? See attached image.
  10. G

    Layden jar questions? And some static electricity questions.?

    Layden jar questions? :) And some static electricity questions.?? Hello. I'm making a layden jar and i am kinda changing some details in it. and i want to ask if those will affect anything in the performance and if it's shocks can be lethal.. http://postimage.org/image/s9xqthylt/...
  11. E

    Why and how does static electricity destroy chips?

    I'm trying to understand why static discharge (or just plain high voltage) damages semiconductors, in particular integrated circuits. What happens when a chip gets hit by a voltage spike that it can't handle?
  12. Jadaav

    Static Electricity: What Causes Attraction?

    What does static mean ? Why is a positive charge attracted to a negative charge ? What makes them attractive ?
  13. T

    Static electricity and high voltage?

    I was just wondering how static electricity has a high voltage. Is it because of the difference of charge between the two objects e.g you and the ground? Or is it due to the electric field which surrounds an static charged object, so the electric field cause ions to build in the air allowing...
  14. V

    Static Electricity, Spheres question

    Homework Statement Suppose you have two isolated conducting spheres that are both neutral. You move 2mC of charge from one to the other. a. What is the charge now on each sphere? My solution: One sphere is positively charged with 2mC more protons, while the other is negatively charged with...
  15. M

    Engineering ball sorting project, static electricity

    Hello all, I am an engineering student currently undertaking a project at univeristy. It involves the sorting of 4 different balls of which I have deduced how to sort 2 of them leaving just 2 types of balls to sort... The remaining two are of identical size, 10mm in radius, and are...
  16. C

    Calculate Point Charge Force on Line Ab | Static Electricity Homework

    Homework Statement Two points charges A(+10. uC) and b(+40.0 uC) are placed .2 m apart forming line ab. Calculate the force experienced by a point charge C(+10.0 uC) placed on line Ab, .06 m from A Homework Equations F=kq1q2/d^2 The Attempt at a Solution First I tried making a diagram...
  17. C

    Understanding Charge Separation in the Presence of Static Electricity

    Homework Statement What should happen to the electrons in a insulated metal object when a negatively charged plastic rod is brought near the insulated metal The Attempt at a Solution I thought the electrons will repel each other and the insulated object will move away from the rod...
  18. M

    Static Electricity and Algebra Problems

    Homework Statement I have a few problems that I found in my review package that I just couldn't figure out. I've been trying all day as I'm used to the normal F=kqq/r^2. These are higher levelled problems, but my prof says that they will be on the midterm which is coming up next week. If...
  19. N

    Static Electricity electron transfer

    Hey guys, Most physics or introductory electronics books that I have read begin the topic of electricity by introducing static electricity. The books introduce static electricity by either talking about the amber and the wool experiment or the glass rod and the silk cloth. My question is...
  20. E

    Bending distilled water with static electricity

    You probably know how to bend water: Use a comb and rub it with wool (or just comb your hair) and hold it next to thin jet of water coming out of a tap. Here is a video: Comb with wool An explanation is offered here (the water molecule is polar). However, I remember my physics teacher...
  21. L

    Understanding Static Electricity: The Science Behind Displaced Electrons

    Homework Statement " The result of an imbalance of this "fluid" (electrons) between objects is called static electricity. It is called "static" because the displaced electrons tend to remain stationary after being moved from one insulating material to another." Homework Equations...
  22. W

    Fixing Static Electricity Issues: Tips from an Electrician

    I have a problem that is costing me lots of $'s. I built a pole barn seven years ago that is about 50 feet from my house and garage. I am on my third garage door opener due to logic boards being destroyed by static electricity. I have had a second electrician check out my wiring and he says...
  23. S

    Point Charges and Static Electricity Problem

    Hi! I am having a tough time with this question, and would just like some clarification if that's at all possible! I feel I may just be missing a key concept, however, any help is appreciated! Thanks. Homework Statement Point x is .25 m away from a point charge of +4.7*10^-8 C, point Y is...
  24. A

    Why Doesn't Static Electricity Cause Ionic Bonding?

    Why doesn't static electricity cause ionic bonding,since some atoms become positively charged and others are negatively charged ?
  25. V

    Human body and static electricity

    Scenario: If a human body is fully charged with positive electrons (protons/lack of electrons) and comes in contact with a pool of positive electrons such as a charged plate, the charge stays the same in the human body and the plate. Now if the human comes in contact with a source of negative...
  26. F

    Is Ambient Static Electricity Always Present in Our Surroundings?

    I think I remember reading somewhere that almost every moment of our lives we are surrounded by thousands of volts of ambient static electricity caused by the movement of air and clouds, it's just that we don't notice it. I may have mixed up my information so I'm just asking for clarification...
  27. T

    Can Static Electricity be Converted into Continuous and Useful Levels of Power?

    http://www.nuenergy.org/pdf/static-electricity-converter.pdf
  28. P

    Explaining the static electricity

    Hello, I am preparing a material about static electricity, and it's basically finished. However, I have a question what puzzles me. I hope people in this forum can fill that in. So, the core process is that electrons hate to float in the insulators, so they hang on the surface of those...
  29. GRB 080319B

    Distribution of charge wrt static electricity

    How is static electricity charge distributed over the human body if skin (1100 - 496,000 ohms) is a good insulator? For example, if one wears rubber-soled shoes and walks around on a rug, the shoes will obtain a negative charge. Then, if one touches a doorknob or some other metal object, a spark...
  30. T

    Static Electricity Effects on Charged Objects

    Homework Statement How would static electricity on your clothes or on your body affect an experiment involving charged objects? Homework Equations Coulomb's Law The Attempt at a Solution The static electricity would attract the objects due to the like charges, assuming the objects...
  31. J

    Static electricity in outer space?

    Static electricity in outer space? Somewhere I read that a space vehicle traveling in outer space picks up a static electricity charge. Is this true and if it is true, where does that static electric charge come from?
  32. G

    Help diagnosing 'static electricity' problem

    From the attached photograph I have a continuing problem with what I would describe as “static electricity”. Shocks are being received from the rail system and also the aluminimum framing supporting the electrically operated window shutters. As indicated, the deck is a proprietary plastic...
  33. B

    Effects of static electricity on nervous system

    Maybe this should be posted in biology but it seems more like an electricity question to me: I've read that static electricity increases in the cold because of lower relative humidity. This seems to mean that it is more difficult for things to dissipate/ground their electric charge to the...
  34. R

    Can Static Electricity Repel Objects?

    I've been reading about static electricity, and I'm starting to get a handle on how it works. I have a big question; static electricity always seems to make things stick and what not, but is there such thing as static electricity repulsing?
  35. H

    Understanding Static Electricity and Charge Interactions

    Homework Statement 1. Rod A has negative charge and is used to induct rod B. Rod C then charged by touching it with B. The charge on C is… a. Neutral b. Positive c. Negative d. Undetermined2. a. Plastic comb that we hold can be charged by rubbing. Why a copper can’t be charged when we are...
  36. H

    Static Electricity Homework: Positive, Negative, or No Charge?

    Homework Statement 1.a ball is attracted to both positive and negative charge. state whether the ball has negative, positive, or no charge 2.why does electroscope use gold for the "leaf"?can others metal be used? 3.http://www.sciencebyjones.com/induction.gif i do not understand that...
  37. L

    Static Electricity: Can Insulators be Earthed?

    Homework Statement I was just wondering if someone could help explain this problem I've been having. A lot of textbooks I've been studying from are describing how two insulators can become charged, but then don't mention whether an insulator can be earthed - it only mentions "charged...
  38. J

    People who claim their static electricity stops their watches

    I was out in the shop earlier, and came back inside the house, noticed my watch fast a few hours. Did a search to find out what kinds of things cause this, and found that it was probably the magnets/electrical fields from the power tools I was using. Also came across a lot of people...
  39. T

    Static electricity generation. Optimum materials?

    Hello. I'm interested intaking a cloud formed of activated carbon particles and particulates of some other substance to produce static electricity similar to that formed in a cumulonimbus cloud. The means of containing this experiment is another matter. I understand that when "opposite...
  40. C

    Lightning + static electricity + moisture = confusion

    I've never understood this, but none of the people that I thought would know could think of a reason, either. It's probably just some simple detail that I've overlooked, but I'm stumped. So... I've always been taught that "lightning is a gigantic spark of static electricity", but I've also...
  41. D

    Static Electricity on metal sphere

    Homework Statement https://www.physicsforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=21003&stc=1&d=1255013927 I need help for number 11(b), (d) The Attempt at a Solution (b)(i) Electrons move towards the right since like charges repel. (ii) Unlike Charges attract. Thus, positive...
  42. R

    Static Electricity discharge question

    Why is it that someone who discharges static electricity feels a sting but the person who is receiving the static electricity doesn't feel anything? Thanks
  43. J

    Batteries, Ground & Static Electricity

    Hi all, If I take a battery (lets assume a car battery) and connect the +ve end to Earth Ground and leave the -ve end floating. Why is there no charge transfer from the battery to ground? I've read up on a variety of threads regarding this question on this forum. Haven't quite found my...
  44. S

    How Does Glitter Adhere to Plastic in Automated Crafting Machines?

    Hello All, There is this machine that allows one to dropped glitter onto multiple plastic objects and the glitter cling / stuck onto the plastic while excess fell through a wire grid that the objects were sitting on. The glitter then would be sucked up by a vacuum and re-dropped onto the...
  45. C

    Thought experiment with static electricity

    Hi Please excuse my poor electricity knowledge.. also if this is in the wrong place to post, let me know and I'll move Someone raised this simple thought experiment with me and I want to understand better: If you will, imagine a series of balls inside balls (ie multiple layers - for...
  46. T

    Static Electricity and Triangles

    Homework Statement Three positive particles of charges 9.0\muC are located at the corners of an equilateral triangle with .15m sides. Calculate the magnitude and direction of the force on each particle. Homework Equations F=Kq1q2/d2 The Attempt at a Solution In class we haven't...
  47. M

    Static Electricity and particles

    Homework Statement Particles of charge +70, +48, and -80 \muC are placed in a line, in the previous order. The center one is .35 m from each of the others. Calculate the net force on each charge due to the other two. Homework Equations F=kq1q2/ d2 The Attempt at a Solution I...
  48. T

    How Much Charge Is Needed to Levitate a Car Using Static Electricity?

    Homework Statement Imagine that space invaders could deposit extra electrons in equal amounts on the Earth and on your car, which has a mass of 1200kg. Note that the rubber tires would provide some insulation. How much charge Q would need to be placed on your car (same amount on earth) in...
  49. P

    Why Can't Brass Rods Be Charged by Rubbing?

    Hey guys, I have a physics exam tomorrow. I found a question that I can't solve. Rubbing a polythene rod with a cloth makes the polythene negatively charged but rubbing a brass rod in this way will not charge it. Why can't the brass rod be charged this way? Thanks
  50. mattmns

    Static Electricity Woes: Solving My Jacket Problem

    First of all, I know nothing about physics, so if I use the wrong term, or something don't get me too hard of a time :smile: But this problem has been really bugging me these past few weeks. For some reason, my jacket seems to give me a huge amount of static electricity. Almost every time I...
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