Why do some objects produce more static electricity than others?

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Why do some objects produce more static electricity than others?

In: Chemistry

2 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

Static electricity forms when an electric charge builds up (lots of different ways) and it has no path to ground. This “no path to ground” is what is intended to be conveyed by the term “static”.

So materials that can take a charge, but not pass one very well will build static charge. The reason a little water spritzed over the surface of these materials releases the charge is because the water allows just enough current to pass through it that it finds a path. similarly when people touch they provide a path as well – hence the shock!

Anonymous 0 Comments

“static” is created when a surface is able to collect or give up electrons. For this to happen the surface has to be fairly uniform (e.g. a PVC plastic tube) in composition and have exposed leading electron or electron holes.

Objects which are not homogenous (made up of different molecules randomly) will typically neutralize quickly (e.g. a collected electron is donated to a nearby electron hole and vice versa). Also objects which aren’t terribly polar won’t work either.