By: Erebos

Erebos — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 04:55:20 +0000

static electricity-it’s when two objects are brought into contact with each other. in this case, your body and the carpet. now, each object is made of specific molecules, which are made up of specific atoms. Each atom on the periodic table of elements has a different affinity for electrons. So, when you rub two material with sufficiently different affinities for electrons (one wants to give away electrons, the other wants to grab onto them), then electrons may transfer. another way to think of it, is that one material will steal the electrons from the other. (proteines in hair and the rubber in a balloon) This, the transferring of negatively charged electrons, creates an unbalanced charge. one that lacks electrons is thus positively charged and will attract negatively charge electrons from another source (ie another person you’re about to touch), and zap, you get a shock. the one that gained extra electrons will also want to expel those electrons onto something, likely giving another shock. (it’s similar to lightning, which happens in 2 parts, cloud particles rub against each other, creating charge imbalance. electrons shoot up from the earth to the clouds, and/or from the clouds to the ground, in order to balance out the charge.) the carpet works well because it insulates against grounding. the Earth itself is a huge ball. it has plenty of room to either accept or give away electrons. so if you were to build up an excess of charge on your body while directly touching the ground, the charge will just neutralize itself when the electrons travel between you and the Earth, so you get no charge and no shock this way. the carpet prevents this, as a charge insulator.

Comments on: Why Does The Rubbing Or Your Feet On Carpet Produce Static Electricity?

By: Erebos