Static electricity is an
electric charge built up on persons or objects through friction. It is most
familiar as an occasional annoyance in seasons of low humidity, but can be
destructive and harmful in some situations. When working in direct contact with
integrated circuit electronics, or in the presence of flammable gas, care must
be taken to avoid accumulating and discharging static electricity.
Static electricity is
electricity that does not flow in a current. Static electricity generated by
rubbing two nonmagnetic 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. Usually, substances that
don’t conduct current electricity (insulators) are good at holding a charge.
These substances may include rubber, plastic, glass or pitch. The electrons
that are transferred are stored on the surface of an object.
Materials
Causing Charges
It is created by putting
certain materials together and then pulling those 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).
Stealing
Electrons
According to Solar System
Model (or Bohr Model) of the atom, electrons are in orbits or shells around the
nucleus. A maximum number of electrons are allowed in each orbit. Forces in
each atom seek to reach that maximum number, such that if an element is just
one electron short of the maximum amount in its outer orbit, it would try to
“steal” an electron from another element that may be just starting its outer
orbit. This is the basis of chemical reactions.
Adhesive Molecular Force
An electric charge will
also tend to hold two different materials together. In that situation, the
force is called the adhesive molecular force. When different materials are
pressed together and then pulled apart, the adhesive molecular force pulls
electrons from material unto the other. This creates the phenomenon known as
“static electricity”.
You can see this electric
charge effect with a piece of Scotch tape or similar tape. First verify that it
is not attracted to your finger. Then stick it to some surface and then pull it
off. Put your finger near the tape and it will now be attracted to your finger,
showing that there is an excess of charges on the tape.
Despite their small size, protons and
electrons carry an electrical charge. Protons carry a “positive” charge, while
electrons carry a “negative” energy charge.
Usually, the two different charges
balance each other out, and nothing happens. But when two objects with like
charges (all positive or all negative) come together, the charges repel and the
objects move away from each other. Objects with opposite charges attract each
other because the different charges want to enter a state of balance with each
other.
Objects can get a
negative charge by picking up electrons from other objects. For example, when
your shoes scuff against the rug, your shoes are actually picking up electrons
from the rug. The electrons fly over your body, giving you a negative charge.
Your new electrons fly
over your body because they are looking for a positive charge. If you touch a
metal doorknob, the electrons on your body will leap into the metal, attracted
by the protons there. The transfer of electrons is actually a small electrical
current, and produces the tiny electric shock you feel called Static electricity.
Lightning is similar,
except on a much bigger scale. Both lightning and an electric charge happen
because of the attraction between the opposite static electricity charges.
Not friction
Although you can create
an electric charge by pressing materials together and pulling them apart,
rubbing them together works even better, except in the case of something sticky
like tape.
One unfortunate result
from saying that rubbing materials creates this electric charge is that most
people think that friction causes the charges to build up. It is not friction
that causes the spark; rather it is the adhesive forces that pull off
electrons.
Dry human skin and rabbit
fur have the greatest tendency to give up electrons when rubbed on something
and become positively (+) charged. Teflon and vinyl have the greatest tendency
to become negatively charged (-) when rubbed. If you want to create it, rubbing
fur on Teflon should give the best results.
In conclusion
It occurs when there are an excess of positive (+) or negative (-) charges on an object’s surface. You can create a charge by rubbing certain materials together. It is not caused by friction. The position of the material in the Turboelectric Series determines how effectively the charges will be exchanged.
It occurs when there are an excess of positive (+) or negative (-) charges on an object’s surface. You can create a charge by rubbing certain materials together. It is not caused by friction. The position of the material in the Turboelectric Series determines how effectively the charges will be exchanged.
