Electronics & Technology (Q&A)

Answer:

All materials are made of electrical charges in the material atoms. In the universe there are equal amounts of negative electrical charge (electrons) and positive charge (protons). These generally try to stay in balance of equal amounts at every location. However, when two materials are in contact, some of the charges redistribute by moving from one material to the other. This leaves an excess of positive charge on one material, and an equal negative charge on the other. When the materials move apart, each takes it's charge with it. One material becomes charged positively, and the other negatively. If the materials are able to conduct electricity away the charges will dissipate and eventually recombine. In this case, static electricity effects may be too small to be noticed. However, if the charges are separated faster than the material can dissipate them, the amount of electrostatic charge builds up. As you walk across a carpet, electrons move from the rug to you. Now you have extra electrons and a negative static charge. When we touch a door knob the electrons jump from us to the knob, and we feel shock, commonly known as static shock. Static electricity is commonly observed in dry winter days static electricity can build up easily in our bodies and cause a spark to jump from our bodies to pieces of metal or other people's bodies.

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