What Type of Charge is Generated by Touching a Door Handle?

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SUMMARY

The charge generated when touching a door handle after walking across a carpet is primarily due to charge induction. As a person shuffles their feet on the carpet, static electricity builds up, inducing a charge on their body. When they touch the neutral metal door handle, a discharge occurs, confirming that the process is not charge by contact but rather charge by induction. This phenomenon highlights the role of conductors and insulators in static electricity interactions.

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1. Ok this is really simple but I am a little confused so here is the question what kind of charge is this charge by contact, charge polarization, or charge by inductionYou walk across a carpeted room and when you touch the door handle, you feel a shock.I assume its charge by induction because the door handle is a neutral object and it is a conductor, and all you are doing it is touching the door handle, but I am still kind of confused whether it is a charge by contact because you are touching a door handle.

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Welcome to PF.

The induction charge is developed by your shuffling your feet across the carpet. This "induces" the charging of you such that when you come in the vicinity of the doorknob that a discharge event occurs. The reason it is induction is because the floor and your feet - without your shuffling - are not otherwise charged. For instance running a wire from the carpet to the knob won't result in current.
 
o ok thank you for the response i understand now
 

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