Q&A for How to Make Static Electricity

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Question

How do you know if you are charged up enough to shock someone?

Community Answer

Put your hand close to your hair and if you feel your hair react, that means you are charged up.

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Question

Can static electricity make things float?

Community Answer

Yes. There is a great trick where you can float/levitate a dollar bill between your hands (which are electrically charged). Search for the trick on YouTube.

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Question

Can I make static electricity by rubbing wool gloves together?

Community Answer

Yes.

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Question

I have socks on and it doesn't work. How do I make a charge?

Community Answer

Rub your socks on the carpet really fast, and it should create a charge. Also, rubbing wool with plastic can create static electricity.

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Question

Can I make static electricity with my hands?

Community Answer

Yes, because you can make static or fluorescent energy when it's cold.

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Question

How can I shock people with static electricity?

Community Answer

Make some static electricity, and then touch someone's skin. It won't work if you touch their hair or clothes.

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Question

Can a shock from static electricity burn my skin?

Community Answer

No, the electricity isn't strong enough to burn you.

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Question

Can I shock myself with static electricity?

Ariane Li

Community Answer

Yes, you can. For example if you rub your socks against the carpet and then touch something made of metal, you will discharge the static you made onto yourself.

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Question

Can I make static with a hairbrush like with a comb?

Cat4242

Community Answer

It really depends on the material of the hairbrush. Try different ones to see what matches the results of the comb best.

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Question

What causes static electricity?

Community Answer

The phenomenon of static electricity requires a separation of positive and negative charges. When two materials are in contact, electrons may move from one material to the other, which leaves an excess of positive charge on one material, and an equal negative charge on the other.

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Question

How do I create a static shock with my hands?

Community Answer

Try rubbing some wool gloves together really fast. You can also try rubbing your hands or feet against a carpet and the static electricity will build up in your body until you release it.

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Question

How can I generate static electricity that is strong enough to hurt someone?

Blue Topaz

Community Answer

One way to do it is to rub your socks against carpet really fast and for way longer than what is stated here. You'll build up enough static electricity to launch a small thin beam at your victim. But know your limits. Make sure you don't hurt yourself while doing this.

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Question

What happens if the object is positively charged?

Community Answer

If the object Is positively charged, you can be able to transfer it to a negatively charged object, such as your hair, skin, etc.

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Question

How do I reduce humidity?

Community Answer

You can buy a dehumidifier for your room. This will remove moisture from the air, making it dryer over time. Of course, a dehumidifier pretty much won't do anything outside.

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Question

Can I also rub my wool socks on a blanket?

Community Answer

Yes. Remember, there is usually more static in certain fabrics when you dry them in an electric dryer.

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Question

Does rubbing your feet against carpet work if your hair is wet?

Andy Winder

Community Answer

Yes, it will still work. As long as your socks are dry, you can conduct static electricity.

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Question

Can static charge work if the person is insulated, i.e. wearing shoes, etc?

Cat4242

Community Answer

No, because they won't conduct the electricity or give it to the target. Arms, legs, body parts, etc. usually shock the easiest

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Question

Can I make a shock by rubbing bare hands together?

Cat4242

Community Answer

If it's a dry, cold, winter day and you rub them fast like the sock method, then it is possible.

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Question

Will a homemade electroscope measure how strong the static force is or just see if it is static?

Andy Winder

Community Answer

It will just measure if it is static because it is a simple experiment. But you can buy professional electroscopes that measure how strong a force is.

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Question

How does the body balance electrons after generating static electricity if I don't touch anything?

Community Answer

It just stores it until the charge naturally dissipates. You have about a minute or so to shock something until the charge fades.

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Question

Will touching wood get rid of static electricity?

Community Answer

No, wood does not work because it is not conductive.

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Question

Can static make a visible spark?

Community Answer

Yes. Most of the time, if you look closely, you will see it. If you go down a plastic slide with a fleece jacket, you can get a 1 - 1.5 inch spark.

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Question

Is it possible to charge a phone using static electricity?

Community Answer

Under most conditions, static electricity of the type that shocks your fingers when you touch a doorknob cannot charge a battery. To have that happen, you need to convert the high-voltage and low-current static electricity into low-voltage, moderate-current electricity for a long period of time.

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Question

What will happen if I touch a person with static electricity and I also have static electricity charged?

Community Answer

This is normal. You will both feel a shock, but you won't get hurt.

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Question

Why didn't rubbing my fresh dry socks cause static electricity?

Community Answer

You may have prematurely discharged the shock. Try again until it works. You can test it by putting your hand close to your hair. If the hair reacts, you know that you are charged up enough.

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Question

Can I rub fabric together to make static electricity?

Community Answer

No, this won't work, try rubbing wool and a balloon (or any plastic) together.

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Question

Can I make static electricity by rubbing hair together?

Community Answer

Yes, you can. If you grab your hair and rub it very fast, it will make a little static shock. Just make sure you don't pull your hair (or anyone else's).

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Question

Can I produce static electricity while wet?

Community Answer

No. The moisture defuses the electricity. Being dry or having dry weather when doing this is best.

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Question

Is static electricity dangerous?

Community Answer

Normally not, unless you touch something with a great amount of charge, this could burn you or even stop your heart. But with the examples given above to create static electricity, it's not dangerous.

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Question

What’s the easiest way to make static electricity?

Community Answer

Rub your socks on the carpet really fast, and it should create a charge. Also, rubbing wool with plastic can create static electricity.

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