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Answers to Readers' Questions on Materials that Cause Static Electricity by Ron Kurtus - Succeed in Understanding Physics. Also refer to triboelectric series, physics, charges electron, chemical bonding, Periodic Table, friction, positive, negative, surface charges, human skin, wool, cotton, polyester, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions
Answers to Readers' Questions on Materials that Cause Static Electricity
The following 44 questions have been answered. They are listed according to date.
List of first 10 items
- How to light a bulb with static electricity
- Neutral bioelectrical series substances
- How to get plastic to keep static electric charges?
- Does electrical heating cause static electricity?
- Materials that won't cause static electricity on hair
- Wrapping circuit board in Saran wrap
- How does electricity affect force on an object?
- Wants to protect his iPhone from charges
- How can I remove positive charges from paper?
- Creating static electricity with mannequin's hair
How to light a bulb with static electricity
Question
August 29, 2011
How to light a bulb and enable the static electricity to make some devices to charge if any please do mail to my id i want to know the exact procedure to do the things with static electricity
- India
21929
Answer
Using a high power static electricity generator, such as a Van de Graaff generator, you can light fluorescent bulbs at a distance.
See Generating Static Electricity as a source.
Also, go though our lessons and experiments.
Neutral bioelectrical series substances
Question
November 30, 2010
Explain about the neutral bioelectrical series substances like steel and cotton where the transfer of charges on rubbing together is zero ?
chaviti - India
20766
Answer
I'm sorry, but we do not have that information.
How to get plastic to keep static electric charges?
Question
June 11, 2010
How do you get Plastic to keep or retain a static electric charge?
dee - USA
19881
Answer
Once a material collects static electricity on its surface, it slowly loses the charges. The best way to keep a sufficient amount of charge on a material is to start with a lot of static electricity charges. Some plastics collect charges on their surface better than others. It also depends on what you rub on the plastic to create the charges.
Does electrical heating cause static electricity?
Question
April 13, 2010
we live in an electically heated apt building on the 5th floor top floor we have an overabundance of static electric, What can be done to neutralixe it? people here have oxygen tanks and nose masks. a spark could cause an explosion -right? any chance the heating system is supplying the static shocks? is it dangeurous?
Ivan - Canada
19534
Answer
Electric heating generally makes the air very dry. Static electricity is more prevalent in dry air than in humid air.
If you have too much static electricity, you might try to put more humidity in the air with a number of plants, as well as a humidifier.
Slightly humid air in the winter is much healthier than dry air and results in fewer colds.
Sparks from static electricity could cause fires if near an oxygen mask.
I hope that helps.
Materials that won't cause static electricity on hair
Question
February 12, 2010
what is the best materials to use that wont cause static electricity on hair...thanks your site very informative.
colette - Ireland
19207
Answer
Usually if the hair is wet or oily, it will not create static electricity.
See "Overcoming Static Cling and Flyaway Hair" at:
http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/static_cling.htm for more information on the subject.
I hope that helps.
Wrapping circuit board in Saran wrap
Question
December 18, 2009
Hello, I was told that it was a really bad idea to wrap an electronic circuit board (for shipping purposes) in saran plastic wrap. How likely is it that a circuit board could be damaged by using this type of wrap as opposed to a static sensitive wrap or bag. Is plastic wrap that bad? Why or why not? Also, I have seen some circuit boards wrapped in tin foil. Is this a good idea? Why or why not.
Thanks so much!
Chad - USA
18882
Answer
When you unroll a sheet of Saran wrap, you will often notice it sticking to things. That is because it has collected static electricity charges on its surface. If you pull the Saran wrap off something rapidly, you may even hear some tiny crackling of micro-sparks coming off of it. Such sparks can zap the elements in a circuit board.
Paper is even a better choice than Saran wrap. Ideally, static resistance materials are the best.
Since the circuit board is sensitive to static electric charges, which may burn out its fine wires, you should be careful in what you wrap the board.
Aluminum foil is a poor choice because it could cause a short circuit in the event of the foil coming in contact with electrical current. It is rare, but why take chances?
Note that some bags look shiny like foil but are really plastic and resistant to static.
How does electricity affect force on an object?
Question
November 15, 2009
How does electricity affect force on an object?
julia - USA
18668
Answer
Electrical charges act similar to magnets. Like charges repel and unlike charge attract each other. The attraction and repulsion is a force that is caused by the electrical fields of the charges.
Static electricity is a good example of this.
Wants to protect his iPhone from charges
Question
October 20, 2009
Hello! My name is Hampus and I was wondering what material you need to use if you want to create a glove that can lead static electricity for example on an iPhone. Pleased for answears
Best Regards
Hampus - Sweden
18533
Answer
I assume you want to protect your iPhone from static electric charges that may collect on your body. Technician who work with sensitive electronics often use a grounding strap to drain off excess charges. See:
http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/static_control.htm for a picture.
In the winter, the air is dry, so you need to control the static charges that may build up. It is good to ground yourself by touching metal before you handle your iPhone. Also, tr to avoid wearing clothes made of synthetic fibers. Also see:
http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/static_shocks_reducing.htm
I hope that helps.
How can I remove positive charges from paper?
Question
May 20, 2009
Hi
i have a positively charged paper. how can i remove the positive charges from that paper.
Robert - India
17773
Answer
Newspaper companies use grounded copper brushes on the moving newsprint paper to drain off excess positive charges. You could do something similar.
Creating static electricity with mannequin's hair
Question
October 25, 2008
For this project that I volunteered to do so I wanted to know if you could help me by telling how I could make static electricity through a mannequin's hair.
vannesa - USA
16699
Answer
You can create static electricity by rubbing a plastic comb through your hair. You can verify this by using the comb to pick up pieces of tissue.
You should be able to do the same thing with a mannequin's hair.
Summary
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Answers to Readers' Questions on Materials that Cause Static Electricity