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Answers to Readers' Questions on Causes of Static Electricity by Ron Kurtus - Succeed in Understanding Physics. Also refer to physical science, charges, electron, proton, force, adhesion, atom, Bohr, solar system model, chemical bonding, Periodic Table, Triboelectric Series, friction, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions
Answers to Readers' Questions on Causes of Static Electricity
The following 7 questions have been answered. They are listed according to date.
List of first 10 items
- Why do objects lose their charge?
- Do materials become ionized from static electricity?
- What happens when you rub materials together?
- I get shocked when I touch things
- Could you explain AC or DC electricity?
- What is the effect of multiple shocks?
- Can static electricity kill a person?
Why do objects lose their charge?
Question
September 21, 2010
I appreciate your explanation on static electricity. There is a small doubt, if you can help me. When we rub the comb with the dry hair they get charged statically. Once they get charged, how do they lose this charge after sometime? Where do these extra charges go OR how is the deficiency of charges fulfilled after sometime?
Also, when we touch a polarized object, our body acts as ground and causes the movement of charges in or out of the polarized object. Doesn't that cause an imbalance in the total amount of charges present in the polarized body?
GARIMA - India
20415
Answer
Static electrical charges collect on the surface of a materials, such as a comb. Material slowly loses its electrical charges, often due to air particles hitting the charges. Air not only consists of neutral charges, but also has atoms with excess positive charges and some with excess negative charges.
Likewise, when you touch a polarized object, many of the charges go into your body. However, since your body consists of so many more atoms than those that are charged in the object, the added charges have little effect. But there are situations where a device has so much static electrical charge that touching it can polarize your body and even cause your hair to stand on end.
Do materials become ionized from static electricity?
Question
April 24, 2010
In static electricity, does losing or gaining electrons by a material change it into an ion? Will it react with gases such as oxygen in the air?
- USA
19596
Answer
Although all materials have some free electrons in them, often when a material loses or gains electrons, it becomes an ion. Typically, these ions remain on the surface of the material and slowly become neutralized our interaction with the air.
Note that some air purifiers ionize via air such that it becomes static electrically charged, causing dust particles and smoke to be attracted to the electrode.
What happens when you rub materials together?
Question
December 10, 2009
What happens when you rub one object with another object? Describe with an example.
Harpreet - UK
18824
Answer
It depends on the materials. See:
http://www.school-for-champions.com/Science/static_materials.htm
I get shocked when I touch things
Question
November 24, 2008
I have a huge problem I get electricuted when i touch anything. I'm serious anything like water, doors, cats, wood, plastic, anything. It hurts so bad when it happens how can I stop it. I'm sick of living like this all year long. Please help
tamara - USA
16850
Answer
See our lesson on Preventing Static Shocks at:
http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/static_shocks.htm
Also read the Reader Feedback for the page. It should give you some good ideas how to stop the problem.
Could you explain AC or DC electricity?
Question
May 26, 2008
hi well i loved this website i am doing a project all about static electricity at my school and i am doing it in a powerpoint presentation it reall helped me but could you explain ac or dc electricity
rebecca - UK
15995
Answer
Probably the best way to understand the subjects is to check out the lessons:
http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/dc.htm and http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/ac.htm
I hope that helps with your project.
What is the effect of multiple shocks?
Question
April 30, 2008
My question is...What is the effect of getting static shock mulitiple times a day, every day? Has there been a study? We all get shocked at work every time we walk around our office and touch anything because of the nylon carpet. Some-
times the shocks are big and they do not feel good!
- USA
15839
Answer
It is unpleasant to be shocked often and it can cause injury to your skin. Think of being pricked with a pin several times a day. After a while the damage can build up.
Consider wearing 100% cotton clothes and different shoes. That may help. But since others in your office suffer the same problem, this is really a employee-management issue. Excess static electricity not only affects employees but also can damage computers, copy machines and other electronic devices. Management should know there is a problem. Perhaps get others together to bring this to their attention.
Also see: "Stop Getting Shocks" at http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/static_control.htm.
Can static electricity kill a person?
Question
March 8, 2008
can stactic energy kill a person?and how much of it can a human body cope?
dawda - The Gambia
15505
Answer
Lightning is an example of very high energy static electricity. Many people have been struck by lightning and killed.
Most man-made static electricity has such low current that it does not harm people. But people have been killed when a static electric spark set off some gasoline and caused and explosion.
Summary
Hopefully, this reader feedback has helped provide information about Static Electricity.
Electricity can be shocking
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Answers to Readers' Questions on Causes of Static Electricity