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NEWSCIENCENEWSCIENCENEWSCIENCE A big one next. The world is made of presence of sparks suggested to Franklin molecules, and molecules are atoms, and that some stormclouds carry strong ck to the back of your atoms are themselves composed of electrical charges, and it implied that sweater is certainly a phenomenon. Where positively and negatively charged particles. _ lightning was just a large electrical spark. does "static electricity " come from? From Atoms are held together by electrostatic The common belief that Franklin easily human minds—same as with "weather" and attraction. If matter is made of little "dots", survived a lightning strike is not just "bureaucracy" and other classes of then the "bars" that connect all the dots wrong, it is dangerous: it may convince phenomenon. ss of phenomenon", and having together are made of electrostatic fields. kids that it's okay to duplicate the kite 3. Static electricity is another word for Also, atoms are connected to each other experiment as long as they "protect" them- high voltage. through chemical bonding, and chemical _ selves by holding a silk ribbon with a key Whenever we have high voltage, we also bonding is based upon electrostatic tied in the middle. have electrostatic attraction and repulsion. attraction—repulsion forces. Make no mistake: Franklin's experiment High voltage can attract lint or tiny bits of Without "static electricity", there would was extremely dangerous. He could have paper, and it can make hair stand up. With be no chemistry, no living things. Without been killed at any moment. And iflight- high voltage we also get long sparks, "static electricity", solids and liquids would — ning had actually hit his kite, today he crackling noises, and blue glows and be gas, the molecules of the gas would fall would be regarded as a colonial politician flashes. High voltage makes ozone—the apart into atoms, and the atoms would stuff that gives that funny chlorine smell. turn into separate electrons and nuclei. These things are the hallmarks of Without electrostatics, the entire uni- Many people believe that Ben "static electricity", but they are never verse would be a boring, featureless + tn Lt . caused by the "staticness” of electric cloud of neutral-particle gas. Some Franklin S kite was hit by a charges. Instead, they are caused b’ P g . . . 8 y y people consider electrostatics to be lightning bolt, and this was how intense e-fields—another way of boring. On the contrary, electrostatics he proved that lightning is saying “high voltage". If you can scuff is the very thing that lets this universe . ~_ 4 your shoes on the carpet and then zap be an interesting place! electrical. This is a myth, people with your finger, then you've a ; an "urban legend of science", been charging your body to several Ben Franklin's kite experiment hich is slowl di thousand volts. Many people believe that Ben whicn Is slowly spreading to 4. Static electricity means an imbal - Franklin's kite was hit by a lightning more and more books. ance of electric charge. bolt, and this was how he proved that Electrically neutral matter contains lightning is electrical. A number of closely spaced electrons and protons. books and even some encyclopaedias The "positives" and the "negatives" are say the same thing. They are wrong. They who was killed by stupidity, not asa __ very close together, so their effects cancel have fallen victim to an infectious myth, an famous scientist who founded a major new out. That's why electrical phenomena don't "urban legend of science", which is slowly _ research area. seem obvious in the everyday world. But if spreading to more and more books. When we accidentally remove a bunch of elec- lightning strikes a kite, the spreading elec- So what is "static electricity"? trons from their atoms and then put these tric currents in the ground can kill anyone 1. Static electricity is a field of science. electrons in a distant spot, we'll create a standing nearby, to say nothing of the per- Some people call it "electrostatics". Same region of positive net charge. We'll also son holding the string! thing. create an equal region of negative net Franklin wrote about "drawing down the So, if static electricity is a kind of sci- charge. These imbalances of charge will lightning" from a thunderstorm. What he ence, then it can't be made by generators. surround themselves with intense e-fields. actually did was to show that a kite would In a similar way, you can dissect a dead oo collect a tiny bit of imbalanced electric frog, but you'll never find any biology. charge out of the sky during the early parts And rocks don't contain any tiny pieces of About the Author: of a thunderstorm, before lightning strikes geology. Remember: hydrostatics is the William J. Beaty is an electrical engineer and became a danger. Feeble electric leakage study of fluid pressure; Newtonian statics Mateur scientist, a science exhibit designer, through the air caused his kite and string to _ is the study of physical forces; and electro - Ce ccreultant Gon lecturer based - become electrified, and the hairs on the _ statics is the study of charge, voltage and esearch engineer in the Computer twine stood outwards. Twine is slightly electrical forces. Where can we find static Electronic Services division of the Chemistry conductive on a humid day, and the twine electricity? In physics books—and in Department at the University of Washington served as Franklin's "antenna wire". The buildings at the university! in Seattle. For more biographical details, twine was then used to electrify a metal key, 2. Static electricity is a set of events _ visit http://amasci.com/me.html. and tiny sparks could then be drawn from which humans have grouped together. Mr Beaty can be contacted by email at the key. (A metal object is needed because Sparks and lightning are "static _ billb@amasci.com. Visit his Static Electricity sparks cannot be directly drawn from the electricity", even though sparks and webpage. which felon related norma twine. The twine is slightly conductive, but lightning are about the most dynamic voniseen him are ull text ot nie "State not conductive enough to allow sparking.) things imaginable. Also, "dryer cling" is Electricity" Misconceptions" article can be No noise, no big flash—just boring yet "static electricity". The cling effect—that found at http://amasci.com/emotor/statelec. earthshaking science experimenting. The _ is the electricity. After all, "electricity" can html. Many people believe that Ben Franklin's kite was hit by a lightning bolt, and this was how he proved that lightning is electrical. This is a myth, an "urban legend of science", which is slowly spreading to more and more books. So what is "static electricity"? trons from their atoms and then put these 1. Static electricity is a field of science. electrons in a distant spot, we'll create a Some people call it "electrostatics". Same region of positive net charge. We'll also thing. create an equal region of negative net So, if static electricity is a kind of sci- charge. These imbalances of charge will ence, then it can't be made by generators. surround themselves with intense e-fields. In a similar way, you can dissect a dead oo frog, but you'll never find any biology. And rocks don't contain any tiny pieces of About the Author: geology. Remember: hydrostatics is the William J. Beaty is an electrical engineer and study of fluid pressure; Newtonian statics amateur scientist, a science exhibit designer, is the study of physical forces; and electro - textbook consultant and lecturer based in ee . Seattle, Washington, USA. He is currently a statics is the study of charge, voltage and Spe . ~ 9. research engineer in the Computer electrical forces. Where can we find static Electronic Services division of the Chemistry electricity? In physics books—and in Department at the University of Washington buildings at the university! in Seattle. For more biographical details, 2. Static electricity is a set of events _ visit http://amasci.com/me.html. which humans have grouped together. Mr Beaty can be contacted by email at Sparks and lightning are "static billb@amasci.com. Visit his Static Electricity webpage, which contains related informa- . rr ; ami, tion and links, at http://amasci.com/emotor/ lightning are about the most dynamic cimiscon.html. The full text of his "Static things imaginable. Also, "dryer cling" is Electricity’ Misconceptions" article can be static electricity". The cling effect—that found at http://amasci.com/emotor/statelec. is the electricity. After all, "electricity" can html. electricity", even though sparks and 44 = NEXUS www.nexusmagazine.com OCTOBER — NOVEMBER 2005