Can Static Electricity Repel Objects?

AI Thread Summary
Static electricity can indeed cause repulsion between objects, not just attraction. Common examples include the repulsion observed when two similarly charged balloons are brought close together. The discussion highlights that while static electricity is often associated with sticking, it can also lead to objects pushing away from each other. Understanding both attraction and repulsion is essential for grasping the full concept of static electricity. This knowledge can enhance practical applications and experiments involving static charges.
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I've been reading about static electricity, and I'm starting to get a handle on how it works. I have a big question; static electricity always seems to make things stick and what not, but is there such thing as static electricity repulsing?
 
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Draven said:
I've been reading about static electricity, and I'm starting to get a handle on how it works. I have a big question; static electricity always seems to make things stick and what not, but is there such thing as static electricity repulsing?

You betcha!
static_hair_kid.jpg


balloon-static-wall.jpg
 
Wow, what an excellent answer!
 
Lol!
 
Haha, good example Dave! I've always thought of it as "Lol a balloon attracts my hair" so I never thought of those obvious examples. Thanks for the easy answer!
 
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