Electricity is a set of phenomena based on the existence, movement and interaction of electric charges. The study of electricity has led to the emergence of many ideas, theories and inventions, without which it is simply impossible to imagine modern life. However, there is a difference between the electricity used to, say, light cities and the static electricity we may encounter at unexpected times in everyday life. So, if charged electrical particles, as a rule, behave chaotically, balancing each other, and their total charge in space is close to zero, then in the case of static electricity these charges accumulate in one place, for example, on the surface of wool or a balloon. We'll tell you what this natural phenomenon is and how understanding it helps you avoid unpleasant situations.
Each of us encounters static electricity in everyday life. But what is it? Image: estatsolutions.co.uk
Contents
- 1 What is electricity?
- 1.1 Electric charge
- 1.2 How is electricity produced?
- 2 Static electricity
- 3 Using static electricity
- 4 How to avoid trouble?
What is electricity?
So, static electricity and normal electricity are two different types of electricity that manifest themselves in different ways and are used for different purposes. Thus, the first occurs when an electrical charge accumulates on the surface of a material and remains in place until it finds a path to discharge, and the second due to power sources such as batteries, generators or electrical networks that create and maintain the flow of electrons.
Electricity is the movement of electrical charge through a conductor such as copper, aluminum or other materials. This type of electricity is used to transmit energy.
It should be noted that the history of electricity began in the 7th century BC, when the Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus discovered that amber (electron in Greek) rubbed against wool began to attract light objects. This phenomenon, as we know today, turned out to be a manifestation of electricity.
The study of electricity began with amber. Who would have thought? Image: i.ytimg.com
Then, in 1785, French physicist Charles Coulomb discovered a law about the interaction of electric charges, reminiscent of Newton's law of universal gravitation. Thus, Coulomb's law– this is the first fundamental quantitative law formulated in mathematical language.
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Electric charge
But the main thing in the science of electricity is electric charge – a property of bodies that can create an electric field around themselves and, with its help, influence other charged bodies. Let us recall that charges can be positive and negative, and charges of the same sign repel, and charges of different signs attract.
When charged bodies move, a magnetic field is also created, which indicates the relationship between magnetism and electricity. Electricity itself has become an integral part of modern civilization. To obtain it, power plants are built, and for storage, batteries and accumulators are produced. In a word, electricity surrounds us everywhere, and is also located directly inside our bodies.
Electricity is produced by power plants. Image: power.mhi.com
Yes, yes, electrical processes constantly occur in the human body. Thus, nerve impulses, that is, excitation waves, propagate along the nerve fiber and transmit information from peripheral receptors to nerve centers and vice versa, from the central nervous system to muscles and internal organs.
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How is electricity produced?
The extraction of electricity includes several stages and uses various methods and technologies. Thus, thermal power plants use heat obtained by burning coal, oil, gas, natural gas or using nuclear fuel to generate electricity, and hydroelectric power plants use the energy of falling water.
In simpler terms, electricity is produced in a variety of ways, depending on the resources and technologies available. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages related to environmental impact, costs and efficiency.
The electricity that comes into our homes is generated by power plants. Image: sdelanounas.ru
Thermal, hydroelectric and nuclear power plants provide the bulk of the world's electricity production, while renewable sources such as wind and solar are gaining popularity due to their environmental friendliness.
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Static electricity
So, what is static electricity then? The most detailed explanation is: Static electricity is a form of electricity that results from an imbalance between positive and negative charges within a material, which occurs when electrons (negatively charged particles in an atom) move from one material to another .
If the material accepting the electrons is insulated or not an electrical conductor, it will hold the electrons, resulting in a buildup of electrical charge. Since thisthe charge is stationaryand is called static electricity. When conditions allow the stored charge to flow, the excess static electricity is discharged and it becomes flowing electricity.
The attraction of hair to an electrified ball is static electricity. Image: cdn.hswstatic.com
In simpler terms, static electricity occurs due to friction between two materialsthat causes electrons to transfer from one object to another. For example, if you rub a balloon on your hair, the balloon can take electrons from your hair. As a result, the ball becomes negatively charged, and the hair becomes positively charged.
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Now that the ball is charged, it can attract light objects, such as pieces of paper. This happens because the positive charges in the paper are attracted to the negative charges on the ball. Likewise, when you take off synthetic clothing, you may hear a crackling noise and see small sparks – this is static electricity.
Using static electricity
Some of the best known uses of static electricity are in air filters and dust removal devices, which use the difference in charges between materials to remove airborne particles.
As electrostatically charged air particles pass through the filter system, the oppositely charged layers of the filter capture them and keep them trapped. However, the accumulation of static charge is not always beneficial.
Static electricity can be used for a variety of fun experiments and demonstrations. Image: sofamel.com
This can damage important electrical components in computer chips and other electrical circuit components. In addition, the friction caused by pumping liquids through hoses or pipes can cause a build-up of static electricity, which can be dangerous if the liquids or gases they produce are flammable. When this static electricity comes into contact with a grounded object, it can cause a spark that can ignite these materials.
How to avoid trouble?
To avoid unpleasant surprises with static electricity, scientists recommend using humidifiers (all because static electricity is more likely to form in dry air, so a humidifier can help), as well as anti-static sprays that can be sprayed on clothes to prevent charges from building up.
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It would also be a good idea to think about grounding – if you wear shoes with conductive soles or touch metal objects, this will help discharge static electricity.