What's Static Electricity?
399371
Basically, when you rub two certain materials, you will create static electricity, which is named that way because the charges do not _flow_, i.e. there is no current.\n\nNot so basically, but still very primitively, there exist two forms of material: ones that "likes" to "steal" electrons, and ones that "likes" to "give" electrons. Whenever these two are put next to each other, the electrons "jump" from one substance to the other, causing a potential difference, and possibly a spark (if the potential difference is high enough).\n\nRubbing two such materials does not cause this effect. It is a common misconception; when you rub two things you are simply increasing the surface area of contact between the two such substances, thereby creating a more noticeable effect.\n\nand the check spelling button screwed up some of my spelling. fix it yahoo! people, please. especially with the word 'effect' which was changed to 'effectt' and the plural of some words.
137468
any movement thru a fluid produces static electricity.\nDriving(movement)+ Air(fluid)=Shock.\n\nThe tires insulate the charge from going to ground until you touch it. You are then the conduit to ground.
537518
Sure... static electricity will zap it and ruin it.
252927
think so... we all have static electricity in our body...
826446
It meant the same thing as grounding yourself.  Your body is like a live battery and it can store charges (like a capacitor).  This charge caused static when you are in contact with espcially electronic devices like motherboard. The static discharging can reach a few thousand volts and could well destroy or burn small chipsets inside a motherboard, and rendered it useless.  \n\nYou should wear an antistatic wrist strap while handing PC boards.  This wrist strap will 'eat' the static charge in your body and discharge any static on the PC board.  It sells for about $2 at fry's electronic.\n\ngood luck
246952
Dryer sheets really help to reduce static electricity oin your clothes.\nthis sounds silly, but a flat-headed thumb tack through the inside of your shoe facing down so that the tip points down when you're standing up helps with build up when you walk.\nGetting your car properly grounded helps with getting shocked coming out of your car (that's most popular with me)
944281
+ve charge on one, -ve on the other....static electricity
1088763
A lot of static electricity in the air can cause "dry lightning".  I assume that is what happened.
615674
dry air conducts static electricity better, and a spark might case a fire???\n\ni know that was the case in old flower mills
182404
Static electricity can produce ozone (O3) which does have a particular smell.
624972
Surface static electricity is formed on insulating substances because you can by friction rub electrons onto or off of a surface.  In metals, electrons are shared between every atom in an electron 'sea' as opposed to the localised bonding in insulators.  Therefore in metals, any electrons deposited on or removed from a surface simply migrate/diffuse into the metal and remake the balance that existed initially.
1136306
the electricity produced by rubbung two surfaces is static electricity ie it cannot move .it is created when some electrons from on surface are transferred onto the other surface .therefore the surface that has acquired electrons gains a negative charge whereas the other surface acquires an equal and opposite positive charge due to loss of electrons
875567
Two reasons: dis-similar materials and it is an insulator.\n\nHere's how: When you drag a plastic comb through your hair, or rub a ballon against your hair or take a nylon coat off while wearing a polyester sweater, you are rubbing two different materials together.\n\nOne material has a slightly greater affinity for electrons and picks up some from the surface of the other material.  So one item ends up being negatively charged and the other ends up being positively charged.  This enables you to stick the charged ballon to the ceiling, but it also gives you a static spark when you touch something grounded like a light switch.\n\nJust like rubbing your feet (while wearing shoes) on the carpet to zap another kid back in school.  You can build up 1,000-2,000 volts of static electricity (at a very, very low amperage!).\n\nIf the material were a conductor, the charge would be carried away.  So it does not happen with metals.\n\nIt only happens on dry days because humid air bleeds off the charge.  So we mostly notice the effect inside during winter when our heating systems create dry indoor air.\n\nThere are anti-static sprays sold for computer users for carpets and clothes that make them a little bit conductive.  "Anti-cling" sheets to add to the clothes dryer do the same thing.
616514
Generating static electricity.
715218
you're well insulated.  Therefore when you collect charge from moving around, you don't lose it very easily.  Then you touch something, a door, or metal that is a very good conductor....you lose the charge in the form of static electricity.  walking around on plastics will do the trick...turf, trampolenes, synthetic carpeting.  As they are very willing to give you charge that they have built up, and if you're well insulated...you start collecting it.
130645
When it is cold and dry outside, the friction of your car going through the air creates static on your car. When you get out, you provide the shortest path to ground and the static electricity goes through you. If you hold onto the metal on your door while you are getting out, you will not be shocked.
191204
Static electricity.  Just connect yourself to a ground and you'll be OK.