What is static electricity and why does it occur?

Static electricity is produced by the transfer of electrons in the outer layer of atoms by various external forces to form positive ions and negative ions respectively. Any two objects with different materials will transfer and accumulate charges after contact, forming static electricity.

The static electricity on people is mainly caused by the friction between clothes or between clothes and the body, so the "electrification" is different when wearing clothes of different materials.

For example, clothes made of chemical fiber are more likely to generate static electricity, while clothes made of cotton generate less static electricity. And because the dry environment is more conducive to the transfer and accumulation of charges, people will feel more static electricity in winter.

Under different humidity conditions, the electrostatic potential produced by human activities is different. In the dry season, human static electricity can reach several thousand volts or even tens of thousands of volts. Experiments show that when the electrostatic voltage is 50,000 volts, the human body has no uncomfortable feeling, and carrying 1.2 million volts of high-voltage static electricity is not life-threatening.

However, electrostatic discharge will also produce electromagnetic fields around it. Although the duration is short, the intensity is great. Researchers are studying the influence of electrostatic electromagnetic field on human body.

Extended data:

Harm of static electricity

1, dangers in industry

The generation of static electricity is inevitable in industrial production, and its harm is mainly attributed to the following two mechanisms:

First, the harm caused by electrostatic discharge (ESD):

(1) causes failure or misoperation of electronic equipment and electromagnetic interference.

(2) Integrated circuits and precision electronic components fail, or components are aging, which reduces the production yield.

(3) High-voltage electrostatic discharge leads to electric shock, endangering personal safety.

(4) Workplaces with many inflammable and explosive articles or dust and oil mist are likely to cause explosions and fires.

Second, the harm caused by electrostatic attraction (ESA):

(1) electronics industry: dust is adsorbed, which causes pollution of integrated circuits and semiconductor components, and the yield is greatly reduced.

(2) Film and plastic industry: make the film or film roll uneven; Film and CD plastic discs are polluted by dust, which affects the quality.

(3) Paper-making and printing industry: uneven roll paper, inaccurate overprinter, serious dirt absorption and even paper sticking, which affects production.

(4) Textile industry: it causes root silk fluttering, broken flowers, yarn tangling and other hazards.

The harm of static electricity is obvious to all, and people have begun to implement various anti-static measures and projects. However, it should be recognized that the improved and effective anti-static engineering should formulate corresponding countermeasures according to the actual conditions of different enterprises and different working objects. Anti-static measures should be systematic and comprehensive, otherwise it may get twice the result with half the effort and even cause destructive reactions.

2. Injury to pregnant women

Persistent static electricity will lead to an increase in the pH value of human blood, an increase in urinary calcium excretion and a decrease in blood calcium, which is the most harmful to the health of pregnant women. Static electricity can lead to the decrease of progesterone level in pregnant women, which makes them feel tired, fidgety and headache easily, so appropriate preventive measures need to be taken.

3. Injury to the baby

First of all, it will increase the alkaline concentration of blood and reduce calcium, which is really a taboo for babies in growth and development.

In addition, electrostatic adsorption of a large number of dust contains a variety of viruses, bacteria and harmful substances, which will make the baby's skin inflamed, and the baby with weak resistance may even cause bronchitis, asthma and arrhythmia, and so on!

4. For the skin

Long-term exposure to open TV, computer and microwave oven often leads to coarse pores, dry skin, erythema and itchy skin.

However, the incidence of facial diseases such as erythema and pigmentation in office white-collar workers who operate computers every day is much higher than that in people who do not use computers. This is because the static electricity generated by the computer screen will attract a lot of suspended dust, causing facial irritation. This is especially true for people with sensitive skin.

5. For the heart

Clinically, when some people are in critical condition, electric shock may be used to save the patient's life, because electric shock can defibrillation the heart. It can be seen that a certain current can save people, but normal people don't need current.

If the static electricity carried by the human body is several thousand volts or even tens of thousands of volts, it will seriously interfere with or even change the inherent potential difference of the human body, especially affect the normal work of the heart, which may cause abnormal heart rate and premature beats.

Winter13 cardiovascular diseases are related to static electricity, and nine times out of ten patients with heart disease and neurasthenia who can't find the cause are caused by static electricity for a long time.

6. For the brain

Medical experts explained that the static electricity generated by drying does have an impact on the brain, which can cause abnormal current conduction of nerve cell membrane, affect people's central nervous system, and make people feel tired, fidgety, insomnia and headache.

References:

Baidu encyclopedia-static electricity