Static electricity

Removing or preventing a buildup of static charge can be as simple as opening a window or using a humidifier to increase the moisture content of the air. Many semiconductor devices used in electronics are particularly sensitive to static discharge. Conductive antistatic bags are commonly used to protect such components.

About Static electricity in brief

Summary Static electricityStatic electricity is an imbalance of electric charges within or on the surface of a material. The charge remains until it is able to move away by means of an electric current or electrical discharge. The effects of static electricity are familiar to most people because people can feel, hear, and even see the spark as the excess charge is neutralized. Removing or preventing a buildup of static charge can be as simple as opening a window or using a humidifier to increase the moisture content of the air. Many semiconductor devices used in electronics are particularly sensitive to static discharge. Conductive antistatic bags are commonly used to protect such components. People who work on circuits that contain these devices often ground themselves with a conductive antstatic strap. Anti-static shoes should not be confused with insulating shoes, which provide exactly the opposite benefit– some protection against serious electric shocks from the mains voltage. The feeling of electric shock is caused by the stimulation of nerves as the current flows through the human body. The energy stored as static electricity is stored on an electronic device can be used to model the effect of static discharge on a sensitive electronic device. For modelling static discharge, modelling the effect on a human body is a key part of the modelling process.

For more information, visit www.staticelectricity.org.uk or go to the website of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to find out more about how to prevent and treat static electricity in your home or in the workplace. For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details. In the U.S. call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or visit http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/. For confidential. support in the UK, call the Samaritans on 08457 909090 or click here for information on how to get off the wrong side of the road and how to get off the wrong side of the road and get on the right side of the road. For confidential support on suicide matters, contact Samaritans at 08457 89 90 90 or  visit  www.samaritans.org or click here for  information. For confidential help in the United States, contact the National Institutes of Health (NICE) on 1-866-856-3800 or http www.NICE.gov/get-off-the-floor and/or in the UK for help with suicide matters.  For information on how to get off the wrong side of the road and get on the right side-of-the road, visit the NICE website or the UK Samaritans’ in-store site or UK Samaritans page.