Answers to Readers' Questions on Materials that Cause Static Electricity - Succeed in Physical Science. Also refer to triboelectric series, physics, charges electron, chemical bonding, Periodic Table, friction, positive, negative, surface charges, human skin, wool, cotton, polyester, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions
Answers to Readers' Questions on Materials that Cause Static Electricity
The following 38 questions have been answered. They are listed according to date.
List of first 10 items
- 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
- Materials that can be used to create static electricity?
- Trying to detemine charges of materials
- I have extremely flyaway hair
- Does color of hair affect static electricity?
- What is the thinnest material?
- Making gold stick to things
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.
Materials that can be used to create static electricity?
Question
October 19, 2008
Hi i think that was really cool, but do u know some materials that can be used to create static electricity?
Minnesota
10 years old
Aubrey - USA
16666
Answer
Look at the list of materials. Rubbing materials on the list that gain a positive (+) electrical charge with those on the negative (-) list will work the best together. For example, rubbing fur on polyester should do a good job of creating static electricity. Combing your hair with a plastic comb also should work pretty good.
Trying to detemine charges of materials
Question
March 12, 2008
I am helping my daughter make an electroscope using two almunimum thin strips and seeing how the strips behave (attract or repel) when we bring a ruler close to it by rubbing ruler with
1. Wool
2. saran wrap
3. silk
4. paper
Every time the strips repell!! is there a way to know if the ruler is attarcting more +ive charge or -ive? We are making sure the strips become neutral in between our experiement.
I feel since the any charged object is attracted towards neutral objects so it will be impossible to know what charge the ruler is accumulating. But a book says we can find out. I am stumped. Please explain.
Anshu - USA
15521
Answer
The thin strips move apart because they both have the same electric charge. The greater the charge on the ruler, the further the strips should spread apart.
If the strips are given a positive or negative charge from the ruler, and the ruler is then given the opposite charge, it is possible for the charges separating the strips to be drained off and fall straight down but then spread apart again as they take on a new charge. But that is somewhat unpredictable.
It is also possible to bring the ruler toward only one of the separated strips. If that strip moves toward the ruler, then is has an opposite charge. If it moves away, it has the same charge.
I hope these ideas help.
I have extremely flyaway hair
Question
January 24, 2008
thank you for your information.
i have extreamly flyaway hair, and get shocked all the time. i bought a down coat, but i still get shocked, evidently the lining. i was going to buy a wool coat, but everyone i find, has either polyester, nylon, or acrylic lining. i wear clothes with as much cotten as i can get them i also wear cotton socks.
anymore suggestions. i cant even rub my cats and dogs. i have thyroid deseases so i usually have dry shin too.
brenda - USA
15207
Answer
The dry skin is a major reason for building up static electricity. Skin moisturizer may help some.
As far as the flyaway hair goes, you might try an ionic ceramic hair dryer. They are more expensive and weigh more, but they seem to work well in preventing flyaway hair. See: http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/static_cling.htm
Does color of hair affect static electricity?
Question
January 19, 2008
What materials do you have to use for testing the "Does the color of hair affect how much static electricity it can carry?
- USA
15174
Answer
The color doesn't have any direct affect on static electricity, but it does indirectly. For example, the diameter of blond or red hair often is thin, and the hair is usually dry. Combing that hair would create more static electricity than it would for straight black hair, which often had thick strands and includes more oils.
How fine the hair is and how oily are big factors in how readily they become charged.
What is the thinnest material?
Question
December 12, 2007
HI, what is the thinnest material that will stick to other material but not permanently and is non-absorbent?
Wendy - Australia
14962
Answer
A film of gold is often used, because it can made to be thinner than just about any other metal.
Making gold stick to things
Question
November 16, 2007
What two materials could I rub together that would attract gold or make gold want to cling to a surface?
Donnie - USA
14791
Answer
You could rub gold on wool, cat fur or many other materials listed in
http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/static_materials.htm.
Lightweight objects would stick to the gold and thin gold foil would stick to the wool or paper. But a heavy piece of gold would not stick, because of its weight.
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Answers to Readers' Questions on Materials that Cause Static Electricity