MadSci Network: Biophysics |
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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