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Answers to Readers' Questions on Physical Science:

Static Electricity Shocks

The following 96 comments and questions have been sent in. They are listed according to date.

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Which clothes cause more static electricity?

Question

July 18, 2007

Hi.

I read your report on Static Clothes. You said that some clothes cause more static electricity than others but which ones are they? and why? Would it be due to their atomic structure?

If you could answer my question it would be great.

Thanks.

Sharon - USA

14090

Answer

Clothes made of synthetic fibers such as polyester cause more static electricity when rubbed against themselves and against the skin. Look at the items that have static cling when coming out from the dryer.

It is due to their atomic structure.

100% cotton and wool clothes cause much less static electricity.

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Has an anti-static device available

Question

May 12, 2007

we provide a new kind of anti-static products, it's the latest invention of the world. It's different from your products. This kind of product can eliminate static electricity automatically from vehicle, human body, metal and computer, etc to avoid human body being shocked by static electricity. Own one of our product, you no longer need to close your car door by your leg or wearing gloves, no longer need spray, and no longer need to worry about car static kisses your hands. It's not only small and pretty, but very cheap. It also can be used as gift and promotion crafts for your business. now we're seeking business cooperators. for further information,please contact bourne(director of Foreign sales Department)


we await your early reply.

Best regards!

yours sincerely

bourne
Shenzhen Baixin Science & Technology Co.LTD, China
TEL:+86-755-83170248
FAX:+86-755-83170848
Mobile:+86-15818593696
Email: bourne@baixin-tech.com or baixinbourne@gmail.com
MSN: baixin-bourne@hotmail.com
Skype: baixin-bourne
website: www.baixin-tech.com

bourne - China

13766

Answer

Do you have an English-version of your website with information about your product? I am sure it would be of interest to many people. Also, how can people purchase your product?

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Getting shocks more than husband

Question

April 30, 2007

This information on static electricity was very helpful to me. Could it be that I am getting more shocks while getting in and out of my van than my husband because I have drier skin than he does??? I am still not quite sure what to do about my problem. I plan on trying hand lotion and using my ring as a ground. Please let me know if there is any more information on this subject. The shocks I am receiving are getting to be quite painful. Thank you for this resource.

- USA

13674

Answer

Dry skin and polyester clothes can cause you to build up static electricity. One thing to try is to put a wool blanket on the van seat to see if that reduces your shocks when you get out of the van.

Be careful using a ring to drain off the excess static electricity. You might tarnish or pit the ring. It might be better to use a key or some other piece of metal.

Best wishes on reducing the shocks.

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I get shocked on EVERYTHING.

Question

March 6, 2007

I have much the same problems as Marc - USA... I get shocked on EVERYTHING. My friends and family consider me an early warning system for low-humidity. I lived in Kansas for years (quite humid) and still had this problem. I simply have to walk close to appliance and door jams to get a nasty shock. Friends think it is funny, but in the wintertime it is so bad that I am scared to touch anything.
My question is, do you know of any studies that deal with those of us that have excessive static discharge? Has anyone ever tried to determine the difference between people like me and those that don't fear metal objects? I am glad to know I am not the only one, at least.

Heather - USA

13318

Answer

When the humidity is low, it might be helpful to use a skin moisturizer. Also where 100% wool or cotton clothes.

There is a theory that people with an overly acidic system are more prone to building up charges. Carbonated drinks put more acid into your bloodstream. You can get some pH strips of paper to test how acidic your saliva is. Then try to neutralize or make your system more alkaline. Bicarbonate of soda can temporarily make your system more alkaline. You could try that to see if it helps.

Finally, use a metal object such as a key or ring to touch doorknobs and such. The spark will go from a metal to metal.

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Silk rug causes me to get shocks

Question

February 22, 2007

Question: I used a rug made of silk to rugged my room, but each time I try to open my room when the door is closed I normally recieve an electric shock.The door itself is made of wood while the handle and frame is made of matal. Beside, the weather is very dry now. what can I do to avert this shocking problem?

Alio - Nigeria

13224

Answer

In dry weather there are more electric shocks. If the soles of your shoes are rubber or a synthetic material, rubbing on the silk will cause you to build up excess charges. Also walking barefooted in the silk can build up charges.

When you touch the metal handle, the charges are released, giving you a shock.

The easiest solution is to remember to touch the door handle with a metal key, a metal ring or something else made of metal. This will discharge static electricity and prevent you from getting a shock.

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IPod and cell phone started shutting off

Question

February 16, 2007

i have always had a lot of static cling and shocks, but in the past few months, stranger things are happening, and i am not sure if it's related to static electricity.
a few months ago, my iPod starting shutting off out of the blue, then my cell phone began shutting down the moment i touched it. now my work/desk phone also randomly shuts down. my new iPod just zaps off out of nowhere. and today, my subway pass is once again demagnetized, and i have to replace it.

what could this be?

k - USA

13183

Answer

Static electricity can affect sensitive electronic equipment. That is why technicians working on computer parts wear grounding straps, to avoid zapping the equipment with a static spark.

Try to avoid filling up static electricity on your body. You can try moisturizing your skin, wearing cotton clothes, and often grounding yourself on metal objects with a key or ring. Also reduce acidic foods.

If you can cut down on your static electricity, you shouldn't be having problems with your electronic devices anymore.

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Mattress cover gave off sparks

Question

February 3, 2007

Now this may seem really strange and funny at the same time. I recently
bought a new polyester stuffed mattress pad and washed my sheets and hung them
to dry. I took a shower and just jumped in bed to tired to wait for the sheets
to dry. I moved my hand to push the covers and the stroke on the bed created this sparking sound and illuminating blue/green sparks within the mattress pad.
I was even more astounded when it kept sparking radomly without me touching the bed. So you know I jump up and out of bed - tore the mattress pad off and threw it in the other room. I have never seen anything like this in such a quantify of
sparks.........if there is such a thing as spontaneous combustion - I am beginning to believe it. I also found out there was a supposed UFO/light show sighting that day as well as a mild earthquake 2 days prior. Is there any correlation with the earth's movements and pressure changes that could create this response in this intensity? I am going to invest in huge stocks of downy.

- USA

13042

Answer

When polyester rubs against itself, as well as rubbing on your skin, it creates a lot of static electricity. The motion of you in bed caused the polyester in the mattress pad to develop a lot of electricity and then to discharge with tiny sparks. The sparks are so small and of short duration that they present no hazard or danger. It is highly unlikely that they would start a fire in the mattress pad.

Once you have sheets covering the pad, you would not notice the "light show". But still, I would not care to have a mattress covering that created a lot of static electricity, even though it was not a hazard.

Very dry humidity in your room could contribute to the intensity of the static electricity.

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Clothes constantly cling to me

Question

January 31, 2007

Hi. I've read the previous comments but they don't completely apply to me and my situation. :( Firstly i don't shock people or pet or anything like that. It's not a mmatter of sparks. It not a matter of current leaving my body period, well at least that's the way if feels. The problem is the constant build up of it. I feel like i'm becoming a human lightning rod and it's scaring me. Over the past couple months what seemed like a simple case of static cling is now so strong that even though i don't use a drier, clothes that i haven't touched for month before this problem arose, crackle at my touch. I don't ware shoes in the house but walking under ten feet on the rug and my normally baggy pants feels like a tights. Lately everything shocks, literally everything, including plastic bags! The other night i had my shoulder on my lap and i got shocked. I am a computer technician so i know the procedures for grounding my self but none seem to work. strangely enough i tried grounding myself at work a few days ago and instead the shock felt like the current went into me not left and the static cling that constantly bothers me remains unaffected. My sleep is now bothered and i'm afraid that this constand build up can be hazardous. At my current place of work other have complained about be shocked by stuff including plastic items, bags ect. I'm not sure if anyone else has it bad as me but i know there is a definite static poblem there. That was where i first started experiencing the problem. I'd rather not leave my job, is there anyway other than the grounding normal methods that i can get some of this electricity out of me???

Please help. I am genuinely afraid of where this problem can lead. :(

Neeland - USA

13017

Answer

Excess static buildup in the body does not seem to be harmful or a health hazard. Rather, it is mainly a nuisance. But some people seem more prone to static buildup than others.

One major reason is that dry skin can really create a lot of static electricity when rubbed against synthetic materials. Try to put on skin moisturizer and wear 100% cotton or wool clothes--including your underwear. Try using 100% cotton sheets.

Another reason seems to be the body chemistry of the person. The theory is that people with an overly acidic system are more prone to building up charges. Carbonated drinks put more acid into your bloodstream. You can get some pH strips of paper to test how acidic your saliva is. Then try to neutralize or make your system more alkaline. Bicarbonate of soda can temporarily make your system more alkaline. You could try that to see if it helps.

Rub your clothes with a metal hanger before putting them on to drain off any charges on them. Touching metal parts can drain off charges. Make sure your grounding straps at work are attached to something metal.

I hope these ideas help.

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Kitten is creating sparks

Question

January 29, 2007

I have a kitten who sleeps on my bed with me. I am unable to pet or touch her because she lights up like a lantern when she moves on the bed. I have always had a lot of static electricity around me. Is there anything I can do to minimize this condition and could it ever get so bad that a fire could start?

Anne - USA

13001

Answer

If you have a blanket made of synthetic material, both you and your cat will create static electricity. At the very least, get a small wool blanket for your kitten to sleep on. That should reduce the static sparks.

The sparks are too small and last for such a short time that they would not start a fire. The only time they could do that is when pouring gasoline.

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Worried about cockatoo and anti-static spray

Question

January 19, 2007

I have a Triton Cockatoo I live in Las Vegas Nv. the static charge of the world, I use the static free spray it seems to work fairly well as far as keeping the shocks down,I use it all over my house also use it on my hair to control static splits, lol.. I have heard this may hurt my birds resportory system do you have any facts on that? would hate to have to stop my spray but also don't want to hurt my bird. some of the shocks here can go up to 1 foot from a key to a lock you can see it at nite. if not careful could kill a bird. James Arnold, Las Vegas, Nv, 89115

James - USA

12908

Answer

Birds are much more sensitive to chemicals in the air, so it is advisable not to use such sprays around them. I'm sure if you used the anti-static spray in another part of the house, it wouldn't hurt your bird. But also, using too much spray can pollute the air for your own breathing.

One thing you might try is to have more plants in your house. They can increase the humidity and reduce the build-up of static charges. But you probably still will have a problem with it.

There are also some plants that tend to absorb pollutants in the air. I believe a spider plant is good for that.

It is tough to control static electricity in a dry climate, but you have to make some compromises. Best wishes in your efforts.

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