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Name: Guillen
Status: N/a
Age: N/A
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: Around 1993
Question:
Why is it that some objects are easier to charge with static electricity than others?


Replies:
Basically, friction is caused by electrical forces, and so when ever you have friction between two different materials there is some chance of charge being transferred. The materials that are easier to get a charge from (or to charge), I think, are those which have very long needle-like shapes on their surfaces. Whenever you have electric fields around, they get extremely concentrated near needle-like shapes, and so more charge is going to get transferred. What I mean by needle-like shapes is things like fur, or carpets, or blankets (usually older ones work better), where little hairs poke out of the surface.

A. Smith


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