Question

What are the properties of static electricity ?

Answer 1

Hint: Static electricity is caused by charges on the surface of a non-conducting body. The charges are statics, that is they do not move, so they do not accelerate. Also, they do not vary with time.

Complete answer:
Static electricity or static electric charge is caused because of an imbalance between electric charges in a body. This imbalance can be caused by various physical factors. One typical example of generation of electric charge is when two solid objects come into contact. We know that objects are made up of atoms and they have loosely bound or valence electrons.

So, when two objects are rubbed or given some form of energy, electrons which are more loosely bounded jump from one object to atoms of another object which can tightly hold them. And this creates an electric field around these objects and results in static electricity.

Now let us look at the properties of static electricity.
- The charges must be at rest or stationary, to produce static electricity.
- Unlike current electricity, under static conditions, the electric charges are held stationary by other unspecified forces even though there is a Coulomb’s force between these charges.
- Electric fields produced by charges are constant and there are no electric currents.
- Charges don’t produce magnetic fields around them unlike current electricity, as they are static and their electric fields are constant.
- Using humidifiers and air ionizers reduce the effects of static electricity in everyday life.

Note: If we touch something that has a buildup of an electric charge on it, we get a shock on our fingertips due to static electricity. It's also why our hair stands up in dry weather and why woollen garments crackle after being dried in a hot dryer.