Hello
I have an exam coming and my question is :
Why do we sometimes have a tiny electical current ( spark ) when we take our sweater off because of the shirt and jacket rubbing each other , the negative charges will have static electricity
But for an electrical current , it needs and complete circuit and needs a battery , how does the spark happen if there was no battery or a complete circuit ?
thanks
Since this is not my area of expertise, I searched Google under the key words "static electricity" to get these possible sources:
http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/static.html
http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/static.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrostatic
In the future, you can find the information you desire more quickly, if you use appropriate key words to do your own search.
I hope this helps. Thanks for asking.
When two objects rub against each other, like a sweater and a shirt, electrons can be transferred from one object to another. This process is called electron transfer or static electricity.
In the case of taking off a sweater and generating a spark, it happens because of the buildup of static electricity. As the sweater and shirt rub against each other, negative charges (electrons) are transferred from one object to the other. This leaves the sweater with an excess of negative charges.
Normally, in order for an electrical current to flow, you need a complete circuit and a source of energy, such as a battery. However, in the case of static electricity, the spark is a discharge of the built-up energy. When there is a significant accumulation of negative charges on the sweater, they can jump across a small gap, like the space between your hand and the doorknob, creating a small electrical spark.
This discharge is possible because the air acts as a conductor, allowing the electrons to flow and create a spark. It's similar to lightning, where charges build up in clouds and eventually discharge through the air, creating a visible spark. So, even though there is no battery or complete circuit involved, the accumulated static electricity can still discharge and create a spark due to the conductivity of the air.