Some materials create more static
electricity than others. Since static electricity is the
collection of electrically charged particles on the
surface of a material, various materials have a tendency
of either giving up electrons and becoming positive (+)
in charge or attracting electrons and becoming negative
(-) in charge. The Triboelectric Series is a list of
materials, showing which have a greater tendency to
become positive (+) and which have a greater tendency to
become negative (-). The list is a handy tool to
determine which combinations of materials create the
most static electricity.
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What are materials in the
Triboelectric Series?
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What are the best combinations of
materials?
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What are acceptable combinations ?
Triboelectric Series
Common materials are listed according
how well they create static electricity when rubbed with
another material, as well as what charge the material
will possess.
The following materials will tend to
give up electrons when brought in contact with other
materials. They are listed from those with the greatest
tendency to give electrons to those that barely give up
electrons.
Greatest tendency to giving
up electrons and becoming highly positive
(+) in charge |
|
Fur is often used to create
static electricity |
The glass on your TV screen
gets charged and collects dust
|
"Flyaway hair" is a good
example of having a moderate positive (+)
charge |
|
|
A surprise that lead would
collect as much static electricity as cat
fur |
|
|
Gives up some electrons
|
|
There are very few materials that do not
tend to readily attract or give up electrons when
brought in contact or rubbed with other materials.
Best for
non-static clothes |
Not useful for static
electricity |
The following materials will tend to
attract electrons when brought in contact with other
materials. They are listed from those with the least
tendency to attract electrons to those that readily
attract electrons.
Attracts some electrons,
but is almost neutral |
|
Some combs are made of hard
rubber |
Copper brushes used in
Wimshurst electrostatic generator |
|
It is surprising that these
metals attract electrons almost as much as
polyester |
Clothes have static cling
|
Packing material seems to
stick to everything |
You can see how Saran Wrap
will stick to things |
|
Pull Scotch Tape off
surface and it will become charged
|
|
Many electrons will collect
on PVC surface |
|
Greatest tendency of
gathering electrons on its surface and
becoming highly negative (-) in charge |
Best Combinations
The best combinations of materials to
create static electricity would be one from the positive
charge list and one from the negative charge list.
A common complaint people have in the
winter is that they shoot sparks when touching objects.
This is typically caused because they have dry skin,
which can become highly positive (+) in charge,
especially when the clothes they wear are made of
polyester material, which can become negative (-) in
charge.
People that build up static charges due
to dry skin are advised to wear all-cotton clothes,
which is neutral. Also, moist skin reduces the
collection of charges.
Human hair becomes positive (+) in
charge when combed. A hard rubber or plastic comb will
collect negative (-) charges on its surface. Since
similar charges repel, the hair strands will push away
from each other, especially if the hair is very dry.
This is called "fly-away" hair. Since the comb is
negatively charged, it will attract object with a
positive charge--like hair. It will also even attract
material with no charge--like small pieces of paper.
Rubbing a plexiglas rod with rabbit fur
or wool will give the rod a negative charge. Although
the rod can be used to pick up scraps of paper, the fur
and wool quickly lose their charge.
Moderate combinations
When two materials that tend to give up
electrons are rubbed together, the one with the greatest
tendency will moderately become positive (+) in charge.
Likewise, when two materials that tend to attract
electrons are rubbed together, the one with the greatest
tendency will moderately become negative (-) in charge.
Rubbing a glass rod with a silk cloth
will charge the glass with positive charges. The silk
does not retain any charges for long.
Unrolling a piece of Saran Wrap or
similar plastic wrap creates negative charges on the
sheet. It will tend to stick to neutral items.
Various materials have a tendency of
either giving up electrons and becoming positive (+) in
charge or attracting electrons and becoming negative (-)
in charge. The Triboelectric Series is a list of
materials, showing the relative tendency to become
charged. This list can be used to determine which
combinations of materials create the most static
electricity. |