What is static? How can I make it?

Question

static like when you rub hair to a ballon or are there any other kinds

Answer 1

static is produced by friction  

Answer 2

Static electricity is when electrons are rubbed off. For example, if you rub your feet on a rug you're removing the electrons positively charging some atoms from the rug, and negatively charging your feet. A charged atom is know as an ion. If you were to rub your way to a metal surfice (metal is a good conductor) and touch it you would get a slight static shock because the excess electrons on your body convert to it. Static energy can be incredibably powerful in the right circumstances. A good example is lightning. You can create static electricity in a number of ways, like rubbing your feet with socks on a rug. You can also purchase a Vaundrgraph Generator, or find a way to control the weather and create thunderstorms :P! I hope this helped.

Answer 3

Buy a Van der Graff Electrostatic Generator and have lots of fun, but only if you have lots of money.

Answer 4

Static electricity is what you mean, I believe.  Another responder suggested buying a Van de Graff generator... I'd suggest that you could make one for US$100 or so... You can also get a lot of static electricity by shuffling your feet across a nylon carpet, or your sneakers across a woolen carpet.

When I was in high school we erected a long antenna wire that, it turned out, was also a great collector of precipitation static (coming from rain, snow, dust storms and so on) -- we could get 1/2 inch (10-15 mm) long sparks from this thing, and they would really sting!

Rub a nylon rod on a cat's fur -- just another way.

Answer 5

You can create static electricity simply by shuffling your stockinged feet on a carpet, moving back and forth in a chair, or as other users suggested.

All matter is composed of atoms. Inside an atom are protons, electrons and neutrons. Protons are positively charged, electrons negatively charged, and the neutrons are neutral. An electrically balanced atom contains a positive charge in the nucleus, and an equal negative charge in the electrons.

When the charges balance, the atom has a net charge of zero. However, if this is disturbed, and electrons are removed from the atom, it attains a net positive charge. On the other hand, should a few extra electrons be added, the atom has a net negative charge.

Static electricity is the result of an imbalance between the negative and positive charges of normally non-conductive material.  Some materials tend to give up electrons and become positively charged, while others tend to collect electrons and become negatively charged.

The Triboelectric Series lists various materials according to their tendency to gain or lose electrons.  

Triboelectric Series:

http://www.siliconfareast.com/tribo_seri...

Most people think static electricity is low voltage, but the opposite is true. Simply walking across a rug can generate up to 12,000 volts. While this will give you a shock, the current is extremely low, so it won't hurt you.

Here is more very important information. Static electricity has been proven to cause fires at gas stations while refueling. Watch this video link:

http://www.pei.org/Uploads/static.mov

Notice that while refueling, the young lady enters the car, slides across the seat, and exits without touching the body of the car. Her sliding across the seat generated a static charge that caused the fire. It happens about 1000 times a year.

So, never re-enter a vehicle while refueling.

I know this because two years ago I spoke with a man who is a recognized expert in static caused fires, and a Fire Marshall who is a consultant with his staff.

http://www.sfowler.com/index.htm

They are trying to get the word out.

Answer 6

Static is a word used in commercials when they mean static electricity. Static electricity is the one generated by rubbing some materials. However, nobody really knows what is electricity. We know that electricity is a form of energy, but most people thinks of it as some sort of a fluid, as in an electric current. Your question is a very good one.