What is Static Electricity? How is it formed?

Before explaining what static electricity means, let's start with a few examples that you may have noticed before, or perhaps have never noticed. Think airplanes. Giant airplanes that can reach high speeds and carry passengers and cargo. Huge planes whose voices can be heard even miles from the sky and sometimes leave traces where they pass… Have you ever noticed the wings of airplanes? The wings of these large airplanes have a pointed shape. Let's descend from the sky to the earth; tankers, for example… Why do you think there is a grounding chain in tankers? Let's continue with examples of static electricity in daily life; lightning strikes, the comb that we comb our hair pulls other objects towards itself, we get hit when we grab the door handle when we get out of the car, the sparks that occur when we take off our woolen sweater, or our hair rises into the air and so on... 



What is static electricity, briefly…

We can define static electricity as follows; Static electricity is the name given to a substance or object that has a positive or negative charge. As it can be found in nature already, it can also occur as a result of some interactions. Static electricity is common on metals, and it's usually momentary. However, static electricity generated on insulators can be permanent for a long time. Another known name for static electricity, which is the result of the interaction of charges with each other, is electrostatic force. Static electricity is generated when two different or the same, conductive or insulating materials come into contact with each other and then separate. Sometimes, static electricity can be generated by the friction process, such as the wool sweater we gave an example above. The voltage of the static charge is very high, but the current is just as weak. In summary, static electricity occurs for three main reasons; induction, friction and separation. The main factors affecting static electricity can be substance type, humidity, temperature change and battery effect.

How to avoid static electricity?

There are multiple options for removing static electricity. If the substance is positively charged, electrons are sent to the surface to make it neutral. In negatively charged substances, electrons are removed from the surface of the substance and neutralization is achieved. One of the most effective ways to eliminate static electricity is grounding. With the grounding line, the static electricity accumulated in the vehicles is transferred to the ground, thus preventing the risk of explosion. In addition, static electricity can be prevented by lightning rod installation. Lightning rod installations can be installed to prevent static electricity in high-rise buildings or structures with a large amount of metal. Lightning rod is the name given to a system that transfers lightning to the ground and prevents it from becoming dangerous. Another method is the use of anti-static materials. A material called anti-static can be used to prevent static electricity generation. These materials are generally carbon-containing plastic materials. Damages of static electricity in work areas can be prevented by measures such as anti-static mats, anti-static gloves or anti-static clothes.

The harms of static electricity

Static electricity is actually known as an electrical charge that seems harmless, but it has great damage at its core. Static electricity can cause some negative situations in the human body. For example, tension, restlessness, irritability or irritability may occur. The electronic devices we use can also be affected by static electricity; Many electronic devices can break down as a result of this static load. Explosive environments are the areas where static electricity is the most dangerous and harmful. Explosive gas or fuel vapor in the air creates the risk of static electricity explosion. Explosions can also be seen at gas stations from time to time. One of the causes of these explosions is the static electricity that occurs when refueling vehicles.

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