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Near the charged object, there is a high charge, near the uncharged object a low charge. As you bring them together the gradient between the two gets steeper and steeper until it is strong enough to pull electrons away from the atoms in the air, ionizing it.

The ionized air conducts electricity better, making the gradient steeper still, and a chain reaction occurs. The energy stored is released in a sudden discharge, causing the heat, light and sound of the spark.

Lightning follows the same principle.

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Why does a spark occur when a person touches an uncharged object?

When a person touches an uncharged object, the transfer of electrons between the person and the object can cause a build-up of static electricity. When the charge difference becomes great enough, a spark can occur as the excess charge jumps the gap between the person and the object, equalizing the charge.


What impression is made when a person's finger touches an object?

When a person's finger touches an object, it creates a tactile sensation that can convey information about the object's texture, temperature, size, and shape. This interaction can evoke feelings of curiosity, connection, or discomfort depending on how the object feels to the person.


When a person standing on an insulating stool touches a charged insulating conductor. will the conductor discharges completely?

No, the person standing on an insulating stool will not allow the charged conductor to discharge completely. The insulating stool prevents the person from grounding the conductor, so the discharge will be limited to the amount of charge that can pass through the person.


Can one charged an object positive by adding protons in it?

That may be one way to do it. But consider this: It would cost you a million dollarsfor a machine that could manipulate protons and fire a beam of them into the object,or about 8¢ for a piece of wool that could scrape a few electrons off of the object andproduce the same net positive charge. As a practical person and a realistic businessman,which option would be more attractive to you ?


Why does electricity make hair stand up?

Static electricity does funny things. First, it's a form of contact electrification, and it has to do with the moving or movement of charges to create an imbalance. In this phenomenon, electric charges (electrons) are fed onto an object or drawn off that object. This will give it an overall charge, and it will be either negative or positive, respectively. And when the charges are moved, the charge on the object will equalize. It won't concentrate (generally) but will "spread out" over the surface of the object that is charged (but there will be some charge concentration at any part of the surface that has sharp "points" to it). So we've got a person charged up with, say, a whole bunch of extra electrons. Do you have the picture? Good. Let's jump. The zillion or so "extra" electrons we charged the person up with spread out over the person. Lots of them are on the person's hair. Remember the basic law of electrostatics about how opposite charges attract and like charges repel? Guess what all those electrons in the person's hair are doing. They're pushing each other away. And because the hair strands aren't really massive (heavy), the hair strands are pushed apart and away from the person. The hair will stand up to get away from the person, and the strands will push away from each other separating those strands. The charges are doing this as the move to equalize themselves over the surface of the charged object (the person). When a person's body is charged, the charges distribute themselves over the outside of the person (to minimize charge density). This includes the hair. And the hair, because it is light and can move freely, will stand up to get away from the person, and the strands will move away from each other as like charges repel. The charges always move around to "minimize" charge density 'cause they don't like each other. This spreads them out over the object charged and gives rise to the movement of the hair.

Related Questions

Why does a spark occur when a person touches an uncharged object?

When a person touches an uncharged object, the transfer of electrons between the person and the object can cause a build-up of static electricity. When the charge difference becomes great enough, a spark can occur as the excess charge jumps the gap between the person and the object, equalizing the charge.


What happen when a person touches the sharp object?

It really hurts them.


What impression is made when a person's finger touches an object?

When a person's finger touches an object, it creates a tactile sensation that can convey information about the object's texture, temperature, size, and shape. This interaction can evoke feelings of curiosity, connection, or discomfort depending on how the object feels to the person.


What can a person be charged with if they alter an object so it appears to be an antique?

If they hold the altered object out and represnet it as being a genuine antique, they can be charged with Fraud.


How would a person normally behave when he touches a hot object accidentally?

The person would get a slight shock and move away from it.


Can you get molluscum contaiosum from touching frogs?

This disease is contracted through skin to skin contacts or when there are lesions involved. They can be transmitted when an infected person touches an inanimate object which eventually touches another person.


When a person standing on an insulating stool touches a charged insulating conductor. will the conductor discharges completely?

No, the person standing on an insulating stool will not allow the charged conductor to discharge completely. The insulating stool prevents the person from grounding the conductor, so the discharge will be limited to the amount of charge that can pass through the person.


What is the definition of a charge of sexual interference in Canada?

Sexual Interference - Every person who, for a sexual purpose, touches, directly or indirectly, with a part of the body or with an object, ...www.sace.ab.ca/Code.htm


What part of speech is overcharged?

"Overcharged" is typically used as a verb. However, it can also be an adjective when describing a person or object that has been charged too much.


Can one charged an object positive by adding protons in it?

That may be one way to do it. But consider this: It would cost you a million dollarsfor a machine that could manipulate protons and fire a beam of them into the object,or about 8¢ for a piece of wool that could scrape a few electrons off of the object andproduce the same net positive charge. As a practical person and a realistic businessman,which option would be more attractive to you ?


What is psychostimulants and what do it do you?

a psychostimulant is a person who touches you in uncomfortable plces such as the boobs


What lies down but never touches the ground?

A person levitating