[3] Static Electricity

What is an example of static electricity being dangerous?

Fuel tankers filling up an aircraft – static charge can cause sparks, which might ignite fuel vapors causing an explosion

What causes static shocks?

A build-up of static charge that suddenly discharges when touching a conductor

What is an example of static charging in everyday life?

Rubbing a balloon on hair – the balloon becomes negatively charged, making hair stand up due to attraction.

Why do insulators retain static charge?

Because charge cannot flow through them like it does in conductors.

What causes static electricity?

Static electricity is caused by the build-up of charge on the surface of materials, typically through friction between two objects.

How can static electricity be discharged?

Static electricity can be discharged by grounding the object or by providing a path for the charge to flow

How do fuel tankers prevent static-related sparks?

Grounding cables are used to safely discharge static charge from the tanker, preventing sparks that could ignite fuel vapors.

Why is it important to discharge static electricity before fueling an aircraft?

Aircraft can build up large amounts of static charge during flight. Discharging it prevents sparks that could ignite flammable fuel vapors causing an explosion

How does spray painting use static electricity?

The paint particles are given a negative charge, and the object being painted is given a positive charge. This causes the paint to be attracted to the surface, creating an even coating.

How does a photocopier use static electricity?

A positively charged drum attracts negatively charged toner particles, which are transferred to paper to create a copy.

What is electrostatic precipitation used for?

Electrostatic precipitators use static electricity to remove pollutants like dust and smoke particles from industrial gases by attracting them to charged plates.