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An atmospheric discharge of static electricity is called lightning.

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Why you are likely to receive a shock after walking across a carpet when the air is dry than when the air is humid?

That shock is caused by static electricity, or the build-up of charge on an object. As you do something that will help build that charge (like scuff along a carpet), static electricity on your person increases. Water is a better conductor of electricity than dry air. In humid air, the static electricity will be slowly discharged as it contacts the water vapor. When there is no water vapor, the static electricity is not conducted away from your body as it builds up, and it accumulates. At some point, you come close to a good conductor of electricity - a metal object, for instance - and the built-up charge discharges.


What is discharged when lightning strikes?

When lightning strikes, it discharges a massive amount of electrical energy. This discharge creates a visible flash of light and heat, as well as a loud thundering sound due to the rapid expansion and contraction of air.


Describe one technological use of static electricity?

One technological use of static electricity is in photocopiers. Static electricity is used to attract toner particles to the charged areas of a photocopier drum, allowing the creation of an image that can be transferred onto paper.


Why does dry air cause more static electricity?

You get a shock when electrons move from a negatively charged surface to a less negatively charged surface. You see a shock then the electrond flow through the air... and ZAP... you feel it too. The electricity has an "easier" time moving though the air when it is dry, so you need less of a charge to get a shock. When there's more moisture in the air, it's tougher! It's the other way around. Moist air conducts electricity better than dry air, so charge bleeds off quickly. When the air is dry, the electrons can hang around on your body for a long time, charging you up to thousands of volts. That can last until you touch something that can conduct them away, like a doorknob or your significant other. Electronics manufacturers have a devil of a time with static jumping onto sensitive parts and damaging them. Electronic assembly areas typically have to keep the humidity above a specified level (maybe 40%) to reduce the charge on the workers.


3 energy transfers that occur during a thunderstorm?

Kinetic energy from moving air generates static electricity, leading to lightning. Heat energy is released as warm air rises and cools, forming thunderclouds. Sound energy is produced by lightning, causing thunder as rapid temperature changes in the air collide.

Related Questions

What is produced when static electricity is discharged into the air?

Ozone


When static electricity is discharged in the air what is produced?

light heat and sound (also maybe a bit of ozone)


Can you smell static electricity in the air?

No, you cannot smell static electricity in the air.


How does static electricity make light when it is discharged?

When static electricity is discharged, it can create a spark due to the rapid movement of electrons. This spark can heat up the surrounding air, causing it to emit light in the form of a small flash. It is similar to how lightning produces light and heat during a discharge.


Can you get static elecricty from the air?

Technically you can not get static electricity from the air. But, static electricity does depend on the air. during the winter, there is more of a chance you will be shocked.


Is appliances current or static?

I think what you're asking are "do appliances run on current (AC, DC) or static electricity. The answer is: current, of course! That's what's generated by your household plug. Static electricity is really just a difference in charges being discharged by contact, be it direct (your hand to your car) or indirect (as in, through the air).


Is lighting static electricity?

Yes, it is static electricity caused by the charge build up from the movement of air over the earth.


How does moisture in the air affect static electricity?

Moisture in the air can help dissipate static electricity because water molecules are good conductors of electricity. This can prevent the accumulation and discharge of static charges on surfaces or objects. In drier conditions, static electricity is more likely to build up and cause sparks or shocks.


How is static elecricity discharged?

Static electricity is discharged when the excess electrons on an object move to another object with fewer electrons, creating a balance in the charge between the two objects. This discharge can happen through various means, such as grounding or through a spark when the potential difference between the objects is high enough to overcome the insulating properties of the air.


How does a barameter have to to with static electricity?

The connection goes like this:The barometer is a device for measuring air pressureAs a storm approaches your location the reading on barometer will dropThe storm may be a lightning stormLightning is static electricity


Why is static electricity worse in the winter than the summer?

Frictional electricity is observed more in winter than summer because of the static electricity which happens more in winter than in summer. Static electricity usually results when to materials that are dissimilar are rubbed together.


How can static electricity help not to pollute the air?

Static electricity can't because first off it all it is the transferreing of electrons to other atoms. It can atucallty pollute the air.