The origin of static electricity has long been an unconsidered mystery of youth. We knew enough about how it worked to generate it on demand, given the right materials, but not quite enough to truly explain how it worked. It just did. Let the mystery be unraveled: Static electricity is formed when two insulators are rubbed together, generating a static field of imbalanced positive and negatively charged ions. When the now charged insulators come into contact with a conductor (like metal, for instance) the charge is released. And this is why you get shocked when you grab a door-handle after crossing a room in wool socks! Air that is drier is far better for generating static electricity than humid air, hence why you tend to experience this phenomena more in winter than you do in summer. Static Electricity Day is your opportunity to really embrace this, and learn a bit more about it. For good or ill. I expect @cunny44 has spent many a happy hour with a Van de Graaff Generator
I oncee walked the miles of nylon carpet at a trade show at Las Vegas, went back to the Philips CD player booth and produced a massive spark straight into my demonstration CD player. Fortunately switching it on and off was able to restore Michael Jackson at 4 times speed and full volume as we were hacked off with annoying music from the PC speaker demo across the aisle
That’s why crocs were invented. A surgeon ‘accidentally’ killed a patient, due to static build up, which messed up a life support machine. You’ll notice that Surgeons and Dentists wear them now becuase of that reason. And confused fishermen.
Back in the day when I had hair to rub a balloon on then be amazed when it stuck to the wall/ceiling. I have not tried rubbing prunes on my bald pate , I suspect they may stick to the wall but my mum will tell me off.
We had new carpet installed in my office back in the 80’s. It was nylon carpet and you’re absolutely right it just created static.
Yes @bernjb56 - always a good stand by for a lesson demo and I could and get my own back on the annoying kids by giving them a shock - fortunately never killed one.
Why do we get a shock from cars? I e had a couple of cars that I had to kick the doors shut when I got out as I got a shock from holding the outside door handle after driving?
I've always found that mechanics are able to give me a shock whenever I step into their workshops. A bit like plumbers or heating engineers really.
