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

AI Thread Summary
Static electricity can still cause a shock between two people even if they are off the ground, as long as there is a charge difference between them. When person A, carrying an electrostatic charge, touches person B, a transfer of charge occurs, similar to discharging a capacitor. Being off the ground means neither person is earthed, but this does not prevent the transfer of charge. The peak current may be lower than if they were grounded, but a shock can still occur. Therefore, grounding is not a requirement for static discharge to happen.
Iamnotarobot120
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
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?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Why wouldn't they?
 
Because neither are earthed?
 
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.
 
  • Like
Likes Delta2
Iamnotarobot120 said:
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
 

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

Static electricity, cell phone in a rubber case
Replies
7
Views
3K
Confused about Polarization and Induction - Static Electricity
Replies
4
Views
5K
A Voltage and current waves in a transmission line
Replies
4
Views
3K
Rubber soled slippers generating static electricity
2
Replies
60
Views
41K
Electric field Difference between Electrostatics and Electrodynamics
Replies
2
Views
3K
Electrostatic levitation of hair
Replies
7
Views
3K
Skin effect and electric shock question
Replies
2
Views
1K
Understanding Electric Shock in Floating-Neutral and Floating-Ground Scenarios
Replies
19
Views
2K
Do birds on transmission lines experience electric shock?
Replies
4
Views
3K
B Definition of ground potential in infinite sheet charge distributions
Replies
11
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top