Static Electricity

Static electricity is an electric charge built up on persons or objects through friction. Static electricity is electricity that does not flow in a current.

What creates a charge?

An electric charge is generated by rubbing two objects together. The friction between the two objects generates attraction because the substance with an excess of electrons transfers them to the positively-charged substance.

Materials Causing Charges

Static electricity is created by putting certain materials together and then pulling them apart causes excess electrical charges to be created on their surfaces. This can be done by pushing them together and pulling them apart or by rubbing the materials together, which is the main way it is created.

Excess Of Charges

Most matter is electrically neutral. That means its atoms and molecules have the same number of electrons as protons. If a material somehow obtains extra electrons and attaches them to the atom's outer orbits or shells, that material has a negative ( - ) charge. Likewise, if a material loses electrons, it has an excess of positive (+) charges. The electric field from the excess of charges then causes the electric effects of attraction, repulsion or a spark (lightning).

Tribolectric series for items around the house:



* Human hands (usually too moist, though) Very positive

* Rabbit Fur

* Glass

* Human hair

* Nylon

* Wool

* Fur

* Lead

* Silk

* Aluminum

* Paper

* Cotton

* Steel Neutral

* Wood

* Amber

* Hard rubber

* Nickel, Copper

* Brass, Silver

* Gold, Platinum

* Polyester

* Styrene (Styrofoam)

* Saran Wrap

* Polyurethane

* Polyethylene (like Scotch Tape)

* Polypropylene

* Vinyl (PVC)

* Silicon

* Teflon Very negative

Interacting Charges

What do two charges with the same charge do to each other? How about two opposite charges? Well the two that are alike will repel and the two that are opposite will attract.