What is static electricity?
Matter is composed of molecules composed of atoms with negatively charged electrons and positively charged protons. Under normal conditions, the number of protons of an atom is the same as the number of electrons, positive and negative, so it shows an uncharged phenomenon. However, the electrons surround the nucleus, and they are out of orbit after an external force, leaving the original atom and invading other atoms B. The A atom has a positive electric phenomenon due to the lack of electron numbers, which is called cation and B atom is increased by the number of electrons. Negative with electricity, called anion.
The reason for the imbalance of electron distribution is that the electrons are out of orbit by external force. This external force contains various energies (such as kinetic energy, potential energy, thermal energy, chemical energy, etc.). In daily life, any two objects of different materials are in contact. After separation, static electricity is generated.
When two different objects are in contact with each other, one object loses some charge, such as electrons transferred to another object to be positively charged, while the other body receives some electrons from the remaining electrons and is negatively charged. If the charge is difficult to neutralize during the separation process, the charge will accumulate and cause the object to be electrostatically charged. Therefore, when the object comes into contact with other objects, it will be electrostatically charged. Usually, when a plastic film is peeled off from an object, it is a typical "contact separation" electrification. The static electricity generated by undressing in daily life is also "contact separation".
Solids, liquids, and even gases are electrostatically charged by contact separation. This is because the gas is also composed of molecules and atoms. When the air flows, the molecules and atoms also "contact and separate" and electrify.
We all know that friction starts and rarely hears about electricity. In essence, triboelectric charging is a process of contact and separation that causes a positive and negative charge imbalance. Friction is a process of constant contact and separation. Therefore, the triboelectric charging is essentially the contact separation electrification. In daily life, all kinds of objects may generate static electricity due to movement or friction.
Another common type of electrification is induction. When a charged object approaches an uncharged object, negative and positive charges are induced at the two ends of the uncharged conductor, respectively. Other electrification methods include: thermoelectric and piezoelectric electrification, Helmholtz layer, and jet electrification.