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 next 10 items
- Can air rushing over polypropylene form charges?
- Rubbing two Styrofoam plates together
- Trying to make a static electricity device
- Generating static by rubbing hands together
- Why do some objects lose electrons easily?
- Concerned about flow of current
- Could a composite aircraft be used to collect charges?
- What happens to a balloon with a charge?
- Does the color of hair effect its static electricity?
- Creating static from a collision of stainless steel parts
Can air rushing over polypropylene form charges?
Question
November 7, 2007
Can air quickly rushing over polypropylene form a negative charge? If so how large of a negative charge can form on the suface and is there a formula to calculate?
Kenneth - USA
14733
Answer
Rushing air can create static electricity on the surface of a material. Since polypropylene has a tendency to create negative charges on its surface, the air probably would cause that situation. Unfortunately, I don't have a formula for the amount of charges that would be collected. I doubt there is something that can accurately predict it.
Rubbing two Styrofoam plates together
Question
October 31, 2007
Hi! I am a middle school teacher teaching physics. We have just finished a unit on static electricity and introduced the triboelectric series. Kids have asked what happens if you rub two of the same object together. They are thinking that there should be no charge since the two would give and receive electrons equally, but in testing that hypothesis with two styrofoam plates, that is not the outcome. We have seen both attraction and replusion (depending on the time of day). I know there can be vast vaiances depending on weather, etc, but should two of the same object on the series show any attraction at all and if so, what causes it?How does one determine what is causing the charge if there should be one at all?
Karen - USA
14682
Answer
It is great that your students were curious enough to ask such a good question.
Although Styrofoam tends to attract electrons from other materials, it can also dislodge electrons from another piece of Styrofoam. In fact, many materials exhibit this ability where rubbing against the same material charges both pieces. The best example is when water droplets cause one cloud to have a positive charge and another to have a negative charge, resulting in lightning.
It seems the rubbing loosens electrons, and some surface characteristic determines which get what charges. Note too that a charged material will stick on a non-charged surface. This can be seen by rubbing a balloon on a sweater and then sticking it to the wall.
When different materials are rubbed together, it is fairly predictable what charges they will get. But when two pieces of the same material are rubbed together, it is difficult to predict what will happen. Scientists still don't have a clear answer of how water droplets get charged in a rainstorm.
This would be a great group science project to examine different materials to see which ones work the best when rubbed together.
Trying to make a static electricity device
Question
June 1, 2007
Hello
I have a question. I want to build a static device.
I have allready one disc of Vinyl ( pvc ) and one disc of glass. Both are 1000 mm diameter, 10 mm thick.
I want to turn both discs in opposite directions. but what must be the distance between the two discs, to get the best result?
Because I dont want, that they hit each other. ( affraid for damaging the discs )
Is 5 mm good enough? or is 3 mm better?
I hope you can give me an answer, because i search the whole internet for this, and cannot find a satisfied answer.
And was it a good decission, to select glas and pvc?
Peter - The Netherlands
13867
Answer
It sounds like you are trying to make something like the Wimshurst Electrostatic Generator. See:
http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/staticgen.htm for a picture and short description. Also see:
http://www.powerlabs.org/wimshurst.htm for instructions on how to make one. This can help you in your version.
One thing to note is that something must be rubbing against the plastic disc to create the static electricity. In the Wimshurst generator, they used metal brushes. If your discs are just spinning near each other, you make get some static buildup from the motion of the air in the gap, but I don't think it will be very much.
Generating static by rubbing hands together
Question
April 25, 2007
what about charges developed by rubbing hands (some human body part except hairy one)? is this frictional forces sufficient to tfr charges? rubbing hands provide sufficient warmth. is charges developed due to rubbing hands conduct to earth through our body or they can be tfered if you wear insulated footwear?
gattu - India
13647
Answer
When you rub two items of the same material together, you seldom get any static electricity. If you rub dry skin against some other material, such as polyester cloth, you will generate static electricity.
The friction of Robert your hands together may create warmth, but that has nothing to do with static electricity.
Why do some objects lose electrons easily?
Question
March 4, 2007
Why do certain objects lose electrons easier than others?
Brett - USA
13306
Answer
Usually if the atoms only have one or two electrons in the outer orbit, the electrons can be stripped off easier, because there is not as much force holding them in the atom.
With molecules, it can be more complex, but the principle is the same.
Concerned about flow of current
Question
February 23, 2007
Thank you for posting information re: the triboelectric series.
However in your discussion of polarities and charge separation as occurs in the respective materials, you failed to mention if you're using conventional flow or electron flow designations.
My guess is that you're using the latter, but it's confusing. Electron flow says that electrons are negative whereas conventional flow says they're positive. Please help readers be clear on these points. Thank you!
- USA
13236
Answer
We appreciate your concern about confusion of the flow of current.
The fact that the direction of flow of electrical current in a wire is in the opposite direction than the actual flow of electrons in the wire can be confusing. In our lesson on the Triboelectric Series of Materials there is no mention of current flow. We only state what electrical charges collect on the surface of the materials.
Mentioning the flow of electrons or of current from one surface to another is something that is explained in other areas and not in this lesson.
Could a composite aircraft be used to collect charges?
Question
November 16, 2006
When I was in the Army we always had to discharge static electricity from helicoptors prior to attachingvehicles under them. Recently I've been interested in composite aircraft. Their skins are made up of a sandwich of epoxy resin and glass (or carbon fiber or kevlar -- you get the idea) skins on either side of a foam core. Thise structure reminds me of a capacitor. Do you suppose it would be possible to construct a vehicle to captures the static charge induced by travel through the air and stores that charge? Would a charge build up even with a laminar air flow?
- USA
12414
Answer
Composite aircrafts seem like a good candidate for building up static electricity. Regular aircraft already captures static charges, as can be seen by the extension of electrodes on the wings of commercial airlines.
The biggest problem is: What would you do with the static electricity, once you created it? It seems more of a hazard than something that can be effectively used.
What happens to a balloon with a charge?
Question
November 2, 2006
If a balloon with a charge is held next to a balloon without a charge, will the balloons be pulled toward each other, be pushed away from each other, or will nothing happen? and why?
Thank you.
QFR - USA
12296
Answer
In static electricity, opposite charges attract and liked charges repel. But also an object with a charge will be attracted to a neutral object. For example, you can rub a balloon on some wall and then stick it to a neutral wall.
Does the color of hair effect its static electricity?
Question
September 7, 2006
does the color of hair effect how much static electricity it can carry in wet,dry,or damp?
Anastasia - USA
11868
Answer
People with black straight hair usually have more oils in their hair, thus reducing the effect of static electricity. Thinner hair, such as with blonds and redheads is usually not oily and gets more static electricity, especially after washed and dried. "Fly-away hair" is often seen. Wet hair does not carry much if any static electricity.
Creating static from a collision of stainless steel parts
Question
July 10, 2006
Is it possible to build up or create a static charge from from two pieces of stainless stain impacting each other? Could a result of the stainless steel being magnetic cause this?
Pat - USA
11458
Answer
Sometimes static charges can be created in the collision of materials, but it is not the most effective way. But note there is no relation between creating static electricity and creating magnetism. Most stainless steel alloys are not magnetic because of the combination of metals that prevent the atoms from lining up.
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Answers to Readers' Questions on Materials that Cause Static Electricity