Current from static electricity

AI Thread Summary
Rubbing socks on a carpet generates static electricity, which can create a spark when touching an unplugged laptop charger. This spark does not trip the breaker because it lasts only a fraction of a second and involves a very low current, typically in the range of tens of milliamps. The current is significantly below the fuse's fusing rating, preventing any damage or disruption. Continuous exposure to static electricity can potentially harm electronic devices, so caution is advised. It's best to avoid practices that could risk damaging the laptop charger.
oneamp
Messages
219
Reaction score
0
If I rub my socks around on the carpet, then touch the end of my unplugged laptop charger, and get a spark, why doesn't the breaker pop?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
The current flows only for a tiny fraction of a second. That's way too short a time.
 
and its really low current, maybe ~ a few 10's of mA - way below the fusing current rating of that fuse

Dave
 
Thanks
 
Are you actually trying to damage your laptop charger ! If not then best stop now.
 
Thread 'Motional EMF in Faraday disc, co-rotating magnet axial mean flux'

Thread 'Motional EMF in Faraday disc, co-rotating magnet axial mean flux'

So here is the motional EMF formula. Now I understand the standard Faraday paradox that an axis symmetric field source (like a speaker motor ring magnet) has a magnetic field that is frame invariant under rotation around axis of symmetry. The field is static whether you rotate the magnet or not. So far so good. What puzzles me is this , there is a term average magnetic flux or "azimuthal mean" , this term describes the average magnetic field through the area swept by the rotating Faraday...
View full post »

Thread 'Why measure the speed of light in one direction?'

It may be shown from the equations of electromagnetism, by James Clerk Maxwell in the 1860’s, that the speed of light in the vacuum of free space is related to electric permittivity (ϵ) and magnetic permeability (μ) by the equation: c=1/√( μ ϵ ) . This value is a constant for the vacuum of free space and is independent of the motion of the observer. It was this fact, in part, that led Albert Einstein to Special Relativity.
View full post »

Similar threads

What materials produce higher levels of static electricity?
Replies
1
Views
2K
I Meaning of "Static Electricity" and Physical Interpretation
Replies
20
Views
2K
Rubber soled slippers generating static electricity
2
Replies
60
Views
41K
I Visualizing fields around coils (statics and magnetostatics)
Replies
5
Views
911
Static electricity, cell phone in a rubber case
Replies
7
Views
3K
A Voltage and current waves in a transmission line
Replies
4
Views
3K
How Can Static Electricity Be Controlled in Textile Spinning Machines?
Replies
8
Views
2K
How do planes discharge static electricity when refuelling?
Replies
4
Views
3K
Confused about Polarization and Induction - Static Electricity
Replies
4
Views
5K
I Can Current Density Static Create an Effective Electromagnetic Shield?
Replies
3
Views
1K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top