You touch a doorknob or reach out to shake your friend’s hand — and boom — suddenly you’re hit with a light electric shock. A seemingly random electric shock when you touch other people or objects is not an uncommon thing. While it feels like a heart-breaking betrayal, it’s actually just the result of atomic movements happening within and all around us.
We at Bright Side grew curious about why we feel this electric bite and what to do about it. So we decided to uncover this mystery for you.
If you recall science classes from high school, a single atom is made of 3 things: positively charged protons, negatively charged electrons, and neutral neutrons. Most of the time, atoms remain neutral due to protons and electrons balancing each other out. However, sometimes this balance gets disturbed by rogue electrons wandering around, creating static electricity, and then discharging.
On a visible to us level, it can be caused by objects moving apart or materials rubbing against each other. One of the most famous examples of static discharge is, of course, lightning! However, the balance between protons and electrons eventually gets restored. The moment the electrons come in touch with a positively charged surface, the charge gets dispelled and it’s over.
So, what can we do to prevent it?
Surprisingly, the weather often has everything to do with it. The electric charge appears most commonly in winter or in dry climates, allowing electrons to easily form on the surface of our skin. Moist air stops negatively charged electrons and we rarely feel an electric charge. While we can’t change the weather, we can surely prepare for it:
Be considerate of the materials you opt for. Certain fabrics are better at conducting electricity than others. So, the type of clothing you wear can absolutely skyrocket your risk for static shock.
A static charge often generates during movements like, for example, while pushing the cart in a store or driving a car. Hold onto things made of metal — like keys — to discharge the energy you build up before touching anything with your bare hands. Alternatively, you can remove the shock by touching things that do not conduct electricity — like glass.
Bedsheets have a habit of rubbing together causing static buildup. Steps that might help you avoid this include:
Having carpeting at home puts you at a greater risk for electric shock. But don’t hurry to get rid of it for good. You can take measures to make it less conducive instead, like:
Due to constant motion and friction, a washing machine can create a lot of static electricity as well and lend some of it to your clothes. At each step of washing, you can take actions to prevent static:
Have you ever felt this sensation? What methods do you use to avoid getting hit by an electric shock?
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