A force is said to be a contact force if the force is exerted on the object on coming in contact with that object. Let us discuss, whether is static electricity a contact force or a non-contact.
Static electricity is a non-contact force and occurs due to the imbalance of charges and displacement of charged particles. If the oppositely charged particles come in contact with zero space in between, then there will be no static electricity.
Does Static Electricity Move?
The word static means stable, the charges are not in a mobile state.
This is not like the normal electricity carried through a wire or any other components. When there is an imbalance of the charges, the charged particles may displace from one surface to another called an electric discharge.
The static current is generated when there is an extra number of protons or electrons available on the surface of the object or within it. Due to the vacancy or excess of charge, the object shows the force of attraction or repulsion towards oppositely charged particles same as the behavior of two poles of bar magnets.
Like electrostatics, this static force will be seen only when the two objects will be separated by some distance. If the two objects come in close contact with no gap in between then this static force will vanish as the particles will lose the charge and becomes balanced.
Read more on Why the coefficient of static friction is always greater than kinetic friction.
Will a Humidifier Help with Static Electricity?
The humidifiers are used as precautious in a dry climate and also help to reduce the influences of static electricity.
Moisture in the air does not allow static electricity to be built in. The presence of air molecules in a greater density absorbs the excess number of charges suspended in the air and terminates the flow of static electricity.
During the dry climate, the temperature is high and the spacing between the molecules increases. Due to this, the density of the molecules in the air per cubic volume decreases. Hence there are more chances of feeling static current in dry areas. Using humidifiers enhances the density of molecules in the air and makes the molecules more conductive thus reducing the effect of static electricity.
Read more on Is electrostatic force conservative: Exhaustive insights.
How can you create static electricity?
The static current can be generated when there are more electrons or protons available on the object.
On rubbing the two surfaces or hitting one object on the surface of another, can migrate some charges thus producing static electricity.
You must have noticed that a balloon gets stuck on the wall after rubbing it on wool, sticking a piece of paper on the scale on rubbing the scale on your hair. This is because, on rubbing, a few electrons which are negatively charged particles get stuck on the surface of the ruler or balloon, due to which it shows the static force of attraction towards other objects, as every object constitute both positive as well as negatively charged particles and these charges respond in accordance to the charges available in the surrounding.
You must have also noticed that when you go out in the hot sun, after a prolonged time your hair stands up vertically. This is because the charges incident on the hair absorbs these charges and becomes charged and attracts other aerosol particles in the surrounding.
Read more on 25 List of Static Friction Examples: Insights and Critical FAQs.
Does the static electricity produce is in a small scale or large?
The static electricity depends upon the availability of extra charges in a system and attraction and repulsion between the charges accordingly.
Basically, static electricity is a result when there is a discharge of the electrons, and the range of the static electricity produced depends upon the number of the availability of the charges.
Usually, static electricity does not cause high currents but if the number of available charged particles carrying similar charges is large, then the discharge of these charges is sudden and on a larger scale.
The static electricity is produced due to the high radiant energy, intense electric field, variations in the radiations, and even friction. If the availability of the electrons is higher in number, then the extra electrons will quickly migrate on coming in contact with an object carrying a different charge in the majority.
An example is a flash of lightning during rainy days. You know that the water vapours collect to form a cloud and the potential energy of the vapours turns into kinetic energy thus starts migrating. As the mass of the cloud becomes massive, the kinetic energy is further turned into potential energy. The charges get accumulates on the surface of the cloud. Lightning is caused when the air rubs against these charges and generates high currents as the accumulation of charged particles is more.
Read more on 18+ Example of Static force: Detailed Analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
How static electricity is used to control pollution?
The electrodes or charged plates are used to separate the pollutants before they escape into the environment.
The air pollutant does carry a charge. When the pollutant travels through the oppositely charged plates these particles get attracted towards them thus controlling the pollution.
What are the applications of static electricity?
Application of static electricity is widely used in different areas.
Some of the examples of static electricity are air filters, air fresheners, 3-D painting, Xerox machines, controlling pollution, etc.
Can static electricity produce in our body?
It is obvious that our body can produce static electricity as our body is made up of a number of elements and neuron systems.
The neuron system works on the electric signal passed to the brain from all the parts of our body. You must have felt a sudden shock-like electric signal upon hitting your joints.
Also Read:
- Can static electricity cause fire
- Is lightning static electricity
- Does static electricity move
- What causes static electricity
Hi, I’m Akshita Mapari. I have done M.Sc. in Physics. I have worked on projects like Numerical modeling of winds and waves during cyclone, Physics of toys and mechanized thrill machines in amusement park based on Classical Mechanics. I have pursued a course on Arduino and have accomplished some mini projects on Arduino UNO. I always like to explore new zones in the field of science. I personally believe that learning is more enthusiastic when learnt with creativity. Apart from this, I like to read, travel, strumming on guitar, identifying rocks and strata, photography and playing chess.
