Happy National Static Electricity Day!?
By Willowlady
@Willowlady (10658)
United States
January 9, 2007 11:09am CST
Static electricity is the imbalance of positive and negative charges that are moving.
A charged object will also attract something that is neutral. Think about how you can make a balloon stick to the wall. If you charge a balloon by rubbing it on your hair, it picks up extra electrons and has a negative charge. Holding it near a neutral object will make the charges in that object move. If it is a conductor, many electrons move easily to the other side, as far from the balloon as possible. If it is an insulator, the electrons in the atoms and molecules can only move very slightly to one side, away from the balloon. In both caes, there are more positive charges closer to the negative balloon. Opposites do attract. The balloon sticks at least until the electrons on the balloon slowly leak off. It works the same way for neutral and positively charged objects
We usually only notice static electricity in the winter when the air is very dry. During the summer, the air is more humid. The water in the air helps electrons move off you more quickly, so you can not build up as big a charge.
3 people like this
19 responses
@brokentia (10389)
• United States
9 Jan 07
Do you own a trench coat? ha ha Well, if you don't then know that if you ever see someone in the winter with a trench coat, expect to get zapped!!! hahahaha
My partner owns a trench and I am not sure if it is the fabric of the trench or what....but each time he takes off his coat when he comes home, he can zap someone. It is really funny at times and even my dog KC has learned to stay away from him when he takes his coat off...she has been zapped in the nose a few times. ha ha
I also have a trench coat that does it. But not as badly as my partner's coat!
2 people like this
@shywolf (4514)
• United States
9 Jan 07
Wow, that's an interesting fact! I never knew that trench coats attract static electricity so much. I also hadn't a clue that it was Static Electricity Day! *laugh* Goodness knows what they will come up with for an idea for a day next... National Lint Day? *laugh* Anyway, happy Static day! *laugh* I definitely learned some things through the original post, and through this reply! ^_^
@bacardiblast_K (813)
• India
10 Jan 07
Same to u buddy.. well it seems u have much knowledge of static electricity.. i never knw abt much..thnx for this information.... well i also have read sumwhere abt electrostatics n wanna sahre wth u....
In electrostatics, charge need not be 'static' in the sense of unchanging. Instead 'static' implies that the dynamic coupling between electric and magnetic fields can be ignored. In electrostatics e-fields, voltage, and charges are studied while magnetic fields generated by the motion of these charges or fields that may be present for other reasons are ignored. Because of the electric field's relationship to and interaction with magnetism, electrostatics is a subfield of electromagnetism.
2 people like this
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
10 Jan 07
Thanks for sharing, I can appreciate such information and thought that it would be good to share and by golly it has. Thanks to your for your part!!! Thanks for responding!!
@margieanneart (26423)
• United States
25 Jan 07
Well that certainly is a super interesting post. I say just slap a bounce on our heads, and that should keep the static off us. What do you think? :)
1 person likes this
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
26 Jan 07
Was that a bounce sheet you mentioned. That might work!! Would say that condtioner would be even more important now!! Thanks for responding!
@nihalnihal (660)
• India
9 Jan 07
Hey buddy you seem to know lots about static electricity charges. I have across this funny phenomenon of getting shock when I touch any metallic object when I move in from outsite the house. The shocks are also quite powerfull. This may be due to the charges picked up by my body due to the friction with aire molecules(my assumption). And may be it just discharges when I touch a metallic object.
This is ok to me.
But this also happens when I touch my fren sitting inside the house, ofcourse after a walk outside. Could you please throw some light on this? Thanks....
1 person likes this
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
9 Jan 07
Tis the dry outdoor air that allows you to build a charge. Friction could play a factor with the type of clothing that you wear also! Enjoy your shocking times!!
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
9 Jan 07
Just by making notes of it and sharing it here. Our weather can not quite lined up for the proper used and enjoyment of such shocks! alas..
@nihalnihal (660)
• India
9 Jan 07
I really don't enjoy the daily shocks I get though!! hehe..:-) Anyways how are you going to celebrate hap[py national static electricity day?
1 person likes this
@inked4life (4224)
• United States
9 Jan 07
To celebrate National Static Electricity Day, I will be leaving all socks and bounce sheets attached to my pants after I remove them from the dryer. I will proudly wear these pants and anyone that laughs or makes a snide remark will be responded to with "Don't you know what today is?"
2 people like this
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
9 Jan 07
Am proud to have been able to share something for you to celebrate in all its grandeur. Wish I could be there to see you do this!!! Enjoy!!
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
11 Jan 07
Yeah and my long hair will be so fly away! LOL, We have purpsely dragged our feet across the carpet to touch each other with a zap attack! Thanks for responding!!
@maru_047in (1007)
• India
10 Jan 07
I have rated ur discussion and u might b knowing that if u are rated u ll get more money than usuall i m here to help u and give some good responses. SO ADD ME AS UR FRIEND AND DO THE SAME TO ME TOO SO EVEN I LL B CREDITED. "IT IS A REQUEST AND NOT A ORDER"
THANKS IN ADVANCE
1 person likes this
@maru_047in (1007)
• India
10 Jan 07
good collection and thanks for wishing Happy National Static Electricity Day.
Wish u the same......
@sarahwang92 (45)
• Canada
10 Jan 07
I just learned a chapter on static electricity in school. Pretty cool how things work when you get time to learn about them. But static shocks can be a pain most of the times not only do they hurt but I hate the fact that it scares me too!
1 person likes this
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
9 Jan 07
Viva la shock!! Static Electricity has long been a subject for children to study. Have enjoyed sharing it with my children!!
@I_luv_money (3)
• India
10 Jan 07
hi,
am really thankful to you for giving such a good topic on physics. Actually i used play with balloons in my childhood, but i was wondering why this happens like this! I had a little idea on Static electricity. Now i got a fair idea on it. Thanks again for info.
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
10 Jan 07
Am so glad that I could help you out. It makes my previous days work all the better. Thanks for responding to my discussion!!
1 person likes this
@jeepstergirl (396)
• United States
10 Jan 07
Gee, that was today? Guess I forgot to buy a card. lol! Have fun with it! I'll have to tell my kids. They'll get a ZAP out of it. Thanks for sharing.
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
10 Jan 07
You are quite welcome, Too bad they don't have cards for it. Here is a card that I made for you!!! Enjoy!!
