Static Electricity By Noah Al Khulaifi 8C

What Is It ? Its when friction produces a charge of both positive and negative on two different objects . This excess electricity is stored on the surface of the material (s) until it contacts another surface with a weaker or opposite charge , at this point it is released in either a weak ( rubbing a balloon then your head ) or powerful ( lightning ) . It can also be either man- made or natural .

Uses There are a multitude of uses for static electricity but there are some that effect you in everyday life . Air fresheners and smokestacks use static electricity to strip off electrons from the dirt ( dust or soot ) particles so that the dirt is then attracted to a designated object or area with an opposite charge thereby removing the dirt from the air and cleansing the environment . Car manufactures wishing to paint cars electrically charge paint mist and then release it in the vicinity of an unpainted car . The paint is obviously attracted to it and attaches it self the body . This produces a much smoother and consistent coat of paint . So static electricity is used in a variety of places and situations .

Lightning Lightning is indeed a form of static electricity , a very dangerous one though . It is caused by ice particles in clouds rubbing against each other and then being pushed about by wind they collide and the accumulation of energy releases a huge fork of energy and heat . Lightning is very dangerous and can kill you , it can also cause blackouts by overloading electrical plants and towers .

Fuel In gas stations and airports static electricity can build up as the flowing motions of the fuel is increased . Depending on the flammable temperature of gases and liquids , this can either be an annoyance or an extreme danger .

Balloon When you rub a balloon on your head static electricity is produced . But why does it stick ? Adhesion , this is when the particles interact and the electric charge forms a bond or an attraction . This static electricity is not very dangerous , although your hair will look awful!!!!!!!!!

Plastic If you have a plastic floor and you shuffle around on it you can produce a charge of static electricity . This charge can travel through your body and you can even damage laptops if you touch them while they are on . This was a problem in the past when computers had just come out and bugs hadn’t been fixed .

Metal You are going down an escalator and you grab on too a metal rail you get a small shock . Why is This ? Because static electricity is at work , friction between metal and humans is easy to come by and when you do it can be very unpleasant , though not at all dangerous .

Problems In general static electricity is harmless although if you are contact with metal , plastic or anything that produces a lot of friction , be careful although rare you can damage your electronic devices with a simple touch . Furthermore , while even rarer then breaking a laptop with a touch setting fire to a flammable pipe is also one of static electricity's properties . The most common damage caused by static electricity is by lightning which can easily kill a man , or two . It is by far the most dangerous and gruesome form of static electricity . However , on a more personal note if you are shuffling around on a carpet and touch someone or even an animal it could give them an unpleasant shock !

Bibliography Works Cited "Static Electricity." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 01 Oct. 2012. Web. 10 Jan. 2013. "Uses for Static Electricity." By Ron Kurtus. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Jan. 2013.