How to make static electricity?

Most people have encountered static electric sparks when a spark jumps from our bodies to pieces of metal or other people's bodies. We can see, feel and hear the sound of the spark when it jumps. So, what is the science behind it and how can we create, or stop it happening?

Creating a charge

Protons, electrons and neutrons

Everything we see is made up of atoms and these atoms are made of even smaller parts called protons, electrons and neutrons. Protons have a positive charge, Electrons have a negative charge and Neutrons have no charge.

Under normal circumstances, atoms have the same number of electrons and protons. So, the atom is neutral. If you rub things together, the electrons can move from one atom to another and some atoms get extra electrons while other atoms lose electrons.

Charge imbalance

If the two materials are now separated from each other, a charge imbalance will occur. The material which gained electrons is now negatively charged and the material which lost electrons is now positively charged.

These charges can build up on the surface of an object until they find a way to be released or discharged. The resulting static discharge is the surplus electrons being released from one surface to the other due to the natural tendency to create electrically neutral conditions.

Positive and negative charges

Opposite charges attract each other (negative to positive). Like charges repel each other (positive to positive or negative to negative).

Static electricity hair is an example of the charges repelling each other. As you remove your hat and the hat rubs against your hair, electrons are transferred from the hat to hair. As they have the same charge, your hair will stand on end as the individual hairs repel each other and try to get away from each other.

Moving electrons

Create static electricity

The most common way to move electrons from one place to another and create static electricity is by rubbing two objects together.

If they are made of different materials, and are both insulators such as human skin, plastic, rubber, synthetic materials, glass or ceramics that holds the charge, electrons may be transferred from one to the other.

The more rubbing, the more electrons move and positive or negative charges accumulate and the larger the static charge that builds up.

Preventing static shocks

The wheels of a supermarket trolley can also generate static electricity as can sitting in a chair where the contact between your clothes and the chair generates an electrostatic charge on your clothes. To help prevent receiving static shocks, wearing cotton clothes and shoes with leather soles helps reduce the conditions where static shocks occur as does raising the air humidity in a room.