Static Electricity

How does Static Electricity work?

Before you can begin to understand how static electricity works you need to know what atoms and electrons are. Atoms are tiny particles that make up everything. Inside an atom is an even smaller particle, it is negatively charged and is called an electron.

When you take an object that conducts static electricity and rub it against a carpet, or any wool or nylon object, the electrons from the carpet/wool or nylon object
 transfer to the conductive object. Subsequently, creating static electricity and giving the object a negative charge. For example, when you rub a balloon on your hair the electrons from your hair transfer to the balloon, giving your hair a positive charge and the balloon a negative charge. As the positive and negative charges are attracted to each other your hair will stand on end! 
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