Static Electricity: Does it Attract Food Waste?

AI Thread Summary
Static electricity can influence the behavior of food waste, as it involves the attraction of charged particles. The discussion highlights that static charge can be positive or negative, while static electricity refers to the process of charge accumulation. Conditions that lead to stronger static charges often include dry environments, which contribute to increased electrostatic discharge (ESD). Observations of rice grains sticking to a container suggest that induced charges can affect particle movement, potentially due to the interaction between the charged surfaces and the human body. Overall, the phenomenon of static electricity plays a significant role in the behavior of materials in various conditions.
FionaZJ
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Is food waste attracted by the static electricity?
 
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FionaZJ said:
Is food waste attracted by the static electricity?
What do you think? What conditions are necessary for static electricy to generate much force...?
 
Different in charge?
 
FionaZJ said:
Different in charge?
Yeah, but that's true in general for charges creating forces via electric fields. What's special about static charge and static electricity?
 
Static charge is positive or negative charge...but static electricity is a process?
 
FionaZJ said:
Static charge is positive or negative charge...but static electricity is a process?
Not really.

What kind of days lead to the worst static charge ESD zaps?
 
Ermmm... I don't know...because I am just a beginner
 
FionaZJ said:
Ermmm... I don't know...because I am just a beginner
Well, just think about it overnight. You should be able to figure it out. :smile:
 
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I noticed that dry rice grains stick to the inside wall of an almost empty, clear plastic container. As I move my finger towards the outside wall, the grain falls from the inside wall before I touch the outside. Any ideas?
 
  • #10
Baluncore said:
I noticed that dry rice grains stick to the inside wall of an almost empty, clear plastic container. As I move my finger towards the outside wall, the grain falls from the inside wall before I touch the outside. Any ideas?
The outer surface of the container is probably charged negatively. When you approach the container, positive charge is induced in your finger. You get a capacitor effect so most of the electric flux from the neg charge now points towards you instead of the inside.

Or maybe charge is transferred between your finger and the outer surface.

Another possibility is that you are not grounded and are charged yourself.

And the last possible explanation is that it was just coincidence.
 
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  • #11
DrZoidberg said:
And the last possible explanation is that it was just coincidence.
I have repeated the experiment several times, so I think it is probably some sort of science.
 
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