science

14864 readers

195 users here now

A community to post scientific articles, news, and civil discussion.

rule #1: be kind

<--- rules currently under construction, see current pinned post.

2024-11-11

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

175

We Finally Know What Creates Static Electricity, After Thousands of Years (www.sciencealert.com)

submitted 1 month ago by yamaonan to c/science

26 comments fedilink hide all child comments

We finally have an answer: The beginning and the end of the sliding motion that produces static electricity experience different forces – resulting in a charge differential between the front and the back that results in the crackle of static electricity.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] bassomitron 3 points 1 month ago

Oh for sure, I fully understand that there are tons of things/mechanics we take for granted every day that we don't actually know how it/they work(s) at the most fundamental level. Static electricity just seemed like a pretty important one that I'd just assumed it was well and thoroughly researched/understood.

Anyway, completely agree with you that this breakthrough is great news and that there are some exciting practical applications that may emerge as a result, particularly the more that model is understood/completed.