MadSci Network: Biophysics
Query:

Re: Humans projecting 'static electricity'?

Date: Wed Jun 18 21:13:13 2003
Posted By: William Payne, , Electromagnetics, Altair
Area of science: Biophysics
ID: 1049538623.Bp
Message:

Any conductive body insulated from the earth, from hairbrushes to 
thunderclouds, may accumulate a static charge when a generator is present. 
Since there is little one can do about ones body being conductive, lets 
focus on insulation and generators.

Your normal contact to the earth is your feet, but your favorite shoes are 
probably excellent insulators.  Soles made of cork, rubber or many 
plastics may allow a large electric charge to accumulate.  The legendary 
inventor Nikola Tesla wore high platform shoes with cork soles for his 
stage demonstrations, using his own body to conduct fantastic electrical 
discrages.  Static electricity is a great danger to electronics, and there 
are many products specializing in bypassing any insulation and draining 
charges to earth, including special shoes or conducting heel straps that 
can be fitted to ordinary shoes, wrist straps with cords and resistors, 
clothing, etc.

The other ingredient is a generator.  Again, since this problem especially 
afflicts you, pay close attention to the fabrics you wear.  Cotton usually 
generates little charge, wool and synthetics, hoisery, etc tend to be 
particularly active.  Again, there are specialty products available to 
combat this problem, including special clothing, mats, furniture, 
utensils, sprays for carpets, even drinking cups and binders for use in 
labs where the least amount of static could threaten a fortune in delicate 
electronics.  Back when the Earth was cooling, a colleage had mysterious 
troubles with a computer circuit, but every time he called me to help the 
problem disappeared.  Third time 'round I had him stay frozen in place, 
turned out his polyester pants on the plastic lab stool was creating the 
static charge that confused his circuits.  (today any electonics 
laboratory would regulate such a condition)

For your condition, a careful attention to preferred fabrics and footwear 
will probably reveal the unique combination that gets you "charged up".  
Static control products can be quite expensive, not to mention 
unfashionable, if you totally outfit your environment.  Anyway here are 
some links to further your exploration:
 http://shop.store.y
ahoo.com/tmt/browstatcon.html 

http://www.static-
eliminators.com/pg2.htm 

http://www.mulder-
hardenberg.be/mira/pdf/esdprotection.pdf




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