I get shocked when I disagree with something. Why does static electricity always come to me?

Audit expert: Zhou Hongzhi

Senior Experimentalist, Master Supervisor, School of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Beijing University of Technology

With the arrival of autumn, static electricity begins to lurk everywhere, always reminding you of its presence with a "pop" sound when you are least prepared. Have you ever noticed that some people are more susceptible to static electricity, or that you are more attracted to someone? Why is that?

Where does static electricity come from?

Static electricity is a type of static electric charge, or charge that is not flowing (flowing charges form electric current).

When electric charges gather on the surface of an object, static electricity is formed. When an object with static electricity touches another object, the charge transfer occurs, which will produce the spark discharge phenomenon we see in daily life. The most common cause of static electricity is friction.

When you take off your clothes and go to bed at night, you often hear crackling sounds in the dark, accompanied by blue light; when you meet and shake hands, as soon as your fingers touch the other person, you will suddenly feel a tingling pain in your fingertips; when you get up in the morning and comb your hair, your hair will often "float" and become more and more tangled; when you pull the door handle or turn on the faucet, you will get "electric shock", often making a "pop" sound. This is static electricity occurring in the human body.

Why does static electricity increase in autumn and winter?

One very important reason is: dryness.

When people move, their skin and clothes rub against each other, and the atoms in the clothing material release some electrons and gather on the surface of the clothing. The charges inside and outside the atomic nuclei in the material are unbalanced, thus revealing electrical properties.

When these electrons have no way to be released, they will accumulate and form static charges on the surface of clothing, and static electricity will appear. Due to the high humidity in summer, the static electricity generated is released by the humid air containing impurities.

But in winter, the weather is dry, the skin is dry, and there is much less sweat on the skin. The charges generated on the body cannot be released in time, and they accumulate more and more. These charges are concentrated, and once they encounter conductive materials or non-conductive materials with a certain humidity, they will be released in a concentrated manner. This is the process of static discharge.

Why am I more prone to static electricity?

There are two types of people who are more likely to cause static electricity.

People with dry skin

The human body is a conductor, and its ability to conduct electricity depends on the surface resistance of the human skin. This surface resistance varies greatly, and the higher the surface resistance, the higher the possibility of accumulating static electricity.

In addition, the dryness or wetness of the skin will also have a great impact on the surface resistance. The drier the skin, the higher the surface resistance.

When the skin is dry, the static electricity in the body cannot be released well, and it will slowly accumulate and increase. When we come into contact with other people, it will be released instantly, and we will feel like being electrocuted.

The more hydrated your skin is, the more moisture it contains. Static electricity will be more easily conducted into the ground through the body, making static electricity less likely to occur.

People who are hypoxic

Some people in the medical field have suggested that when we exercise or are physically tired, we will have symptoms of hypoxia. When we breathe deeply, some positive charges will be generated. If there is frequent hypoxia, too much charge will accumulate and the charge will not flow out, thus generating static electricity.

What are the hazards of static electricity?

The impact of static electricity is mainly irritating electric shock. This reaction is caused by violent convulsions of muscles under the stimulation of high-voltage static electricity, which brings strong discomfort to the human body and mind.

In addition, static electricity will absorb a large amount of dust, which may contain a variety of viruses, bacteria and harmful substances, which will cause spots and inflammation on children's skin. For children with weak resistance, it may even cause bronchitis.

How to prevent static electricity in life?

01 Wear more silk and cotton and less chemical fiber, and pay attention to washing and storage

In autumn and winter, try to choose soft and smooth silk cotton clothes, and wear less chemical fiber clothes that are prone to static electricity. For common sweaters, knitwear and other clothes, soak them in softener before washing, or dilute the softener with water and spray it on the clothes, which can make the clothes soft and effectively reduce static electricity caused by friction.

02 Wash your hair regularly and keep it away from alcohol products

The weather turns dry in autumn, which can easily dry out your hair and breed dandruff. Dirt-covered hair is a hotbed for static electricity, so you must wash your hair and take a bath, change clothes and groom your scalp frequently.

In addition, the evaporation of alcohol will make the hair drier, so try not to use alcohol-containing products when styling your hair. In addition, choosing a comb made of wood or bone can avoid static electricity when combing your hair.

03 Wash your hands frequently to remove static electricity and use various lotions to moisturize

For the human body, the best way is to wash your hands more often and keep them moist, so that the static charge on the surface of the skin can be released in the water. You can also use hand cream, face cream, and body lotion with good moisturizing effect.

04 Eat healthy, drink plenty of water, and eat vegetables and fruits

Eating more vegetables, fruits, yogurt and other acidic foods, drinking plenty of water, and supplementing calcium and vitamin C can reduce the impact of static electricity.

05The room should be ventilated every day, and flowers and plants can help

Keep the room ventilated for a period of time every day. It is best to use an air humidifier and place some flowers and green plants indoors.

06How to open the car door with a cloth, choose the right material for the car accessories

For car owners, you can touch the car door through your clothes before opening it to remove static electricity from your body, and pay attention to moisturizing the car. When choosing seat covers, cushions, and floor mats, it is best to use genuine leather or pure cotton products.

References:

People's Daily Online Popular Science "Static electricity is very harmful! This hidden danger must be paid attention to after the beginning of autumn!"

Learned Youth "Why do I always feel that I am more prone to static electricity than others in winter?"