11+ Electrostatic Energy Examples: Uses And Detailed Facts

In this article, we are going to discuss the electrostatic energy examples, and also electrostatic energy uses.

The electrostatic energy is nothing but the potential energy that gets stored because of the work done against the electrostatic force. At every point on the electric field, a charge ‘q’ may be believed to possess definite electrostatic energy. The work done directly contributes to the increase in potential energy.

The next part describes various electrostatic energy examples.

 

Television screen

We can observe that the dust particles (charged) stick to the television screen as they get polarized while floating in the air by the television screen. A dust layer is deposited on the screen after just a few minutes of cleaning it. We can thus say that there is an interaction between the dust particles and the screen; this interaction is nothing but electrostatic interaction. Also, an electrostatic force can be felt by moving our hands a few centimeters from the screen, and hence electrostatic energy is also said to be stored in it. This scenario also clearly demonstrates the existence of electrostatic energy.

electrostatic energy examples
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Photocopier

A photocopy machine can be considered one of the best examples of electrostatic energy in our daily lives. The process involved in the photocopier is that the image of the original paper that is kept on a screen made up of glass is passed on to a container. The container is positively charged, and a negative charge is achieved in the form of the pink powder that is used. The impression is created on a paper by rolling the drum-like container over that paper; this is how the ink is imprinted on the paper. Thus, a photocopy of a document is created. This scenario also clearly demonstrates the existence of electrostatic energy.

photocopier 1
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A rod is rubbed with a cloth.

A certain charge can be developed on a rod by quickly moving any cloth over it. The nature of the material decides whether the positive or negative charge is developed. It is found that a positive charge is developed in a glass rod when it is rubbed with a piece of cloth; in contrast, a plastic rod develops a negative charge. An attraction or a repulsion force can be observed when these charged rods are brought near a freely hanging ball. Thus, the charge present on the ball is decided by the electrostatic force. Therefore, electrostatic energy is said to be developed. Hence, it is one of the electrostatic energy examples.

Nylon clothes

We can observe the generation of static electricity when nylon clothes are moved quickly against any other fabric or against the skin. The chattering sound that we hear while removing nylon clothes is due to the electrostatic force generated between the skin and the cloth. Usually, a fabric softener is added in order to avoid this static getting developed. This scenario also clearly demonstrates the existence of electrostatic energy.

Doorknob

A person may feel a minor electric shock when they come in contact with a metallic doorknob. This is because of the formation of electrostatic force and the existence of the electrostatic energy between the knob and the body. The knob is able to transfer the electrons to any object, thus charging it as it is made up of metal; this gives rise to the development of electrostatic interaction between the knob and our hand. Try to touch a wooden surface just before holding the knob so that electrostatic force is not developed. This scenario also clearly demonstrates the existence of electrostatic energy.

doorknob
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A balloon rubbed against hair

A deposition of charges takes place on the outer surface of the balloon when it is rubbed against a person’s hair. This is a ballon party trick. The balloon, now after developing a charge, gets attracted and sticks to any surface that contains an opposite charge or even no charge. Here also,  in this interaction, the electrostatic energy comes into action. Hence, it is one of the electrostatic energy examples.

Winter wears

It may be considered one of the best examples of electrostatic energy usually seen in winters. The winters are characterized by dry air and low humidity. In between the fabric and the skin, unknowingly, an electrostatic force will be developed because of the person’s movement, which in turn results in electrostatic energy. You may have observed a crackling sound while you remove woolen attire; this is because of the electrostatic force that is present between the layer of fabric and the body as there occurs an exchange of charge when two bodies that are charged are separated from each other. You can moisturize your skin before you put on such clothes to avoid the generation of charges. This scenario also clearly demonstrates the existence of electrostatic energy.

winter wear
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A comb, when charged

On the teeth of the comb, we can observe a deposition of charges after we are done combing; this is due to the rubbing action of the comb against the hair that takes place. Any lighter particles, such as bits of paper, when coming in the context of the charged comb, tend to get attracted to the comb; this clearly describes that a force, i.e., an electrostatic force is present between the lighter particles and the comb.

Plastic bags

Plastic bags that we use in our daily lives tend to get positively charged and is attracted towards the negative charge. This is why the plastic bags that are used to wrap lunch stick to our clothes when unwrapped, as our clothes will develop a negative charge in them. This scenario also clearly demonstrates the existence of electrostatic energy.

electrostatic energy examples
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 Lightning

Lightning may also be considered as one of the electrostatic energy examples in our daily life, which is shown on a huge scale. The clouds eventually develop a charge when they are rubbed against each other this charge has to be equalized, and it is done on the ground as the ground is considered neutral; hence it has to be the perfect place to equalize the charges. A flash of lightning that we witness is nothing but the charge equalization of clouds.

Electrostatic energy uses

Photocopier

A photocopy machine can be considered one of the best examples of electrostatic energy in our daily lives. The process involved in the photocopier is that the image of the original paper kept on a screen made up of glass is passed on to a container. The container is basically positively charged, and a negative charge is achieved in the form of the pink powder that is used. The impression is created on a paper by rolling the drum-like container over that paper; this is how the ink is imprinted on the paper. Thus, a photocopy of a document is created. This scenario also clearly demonstrates the existence of electrostatic energy.

Managing the pollution  

Electrostatic precipitators are the collecting devices that are installed in the pollution management it possess opposite charges with respect to the dust particles in the air; hence they get settled on the collector.

Factories

The waste that comes from the factories, which are pollutants, makes its way through the smokestacks that are installed in the factories; these pollutants are forced to develop a charge in them by subjecting them to electricity; hence they tend to get attracted toward the electrodes when they come nearer to it.    

Air purification

The same principle as that of management of smokestack pollutants is involved in air freshener also. Impurities in the air are considered to contain electrons that are stripped to make the dust particles charged so that they can be collected by a plate possessing an opposite charge.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Automobile industries

The electric current passed through the container of paint makes the paint particles develop a charge; now, these charged particles are allowed to get stuck and distribute themselves uniformly over the body of the automobile when it is immersed in the container.

Frequently asked questions | FAQs

How will you define electrostatics?

One of the possible ways to define electrostatic is,

The study and analysis of electric charges that are considered to be at rest (static) is nothing but electrostatics. Electrostatics, no doubt, is a branch of physics. The electric charges that are developed do exert some force on one another and thus become responsible for the electrostatic phenomena to take place.

 How do you explain the work done against the electrostatic force?

The importance of the work done against the electric force is given below,

The electrostatic energy is nothing but the potential energy that gets stored because of the work done against the electrostatic force. At every point on the electric field, a charge ‘q’ may be believed to possess definite electrostatic energy. The work done directly contributes to the increase in potential energy. 

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