Static Electricity: Can You Still Get a Shock Off the Ground?

[Iamnotarobot120]

A (possibly stupid) static electricity question:

Person A is carrying an electrostatic charge. They touch person B, both get a shock.

If both persons were off the ground(eg hanging from ropes) ...would they still get a shock?

 

[ProfuselyQuarky]

Why wouldn't they?

 

[Iamnotarobot120]

Because neither are earthed?

 

[nasu]

The difference will be that A won't get completely discharged but its charge will be distributed over the two persons. Like discharging a capacitor on another one.
The peak current may be less than in the other case.

 

[davenn]

Because neither are earthed?

they don't have to be
as long as a charge difference exists between them, there will be a transfer of charge