Electrostatics Flashcards
What are Lightning Rods?
When lightning strikes a tree, the sap carries the electricity, making the tree explode. A tall metal rod connected to the ground would safely carry the lightning away from the tree.
A lightning rod is a metal pole with a wire to the ground. It gives lightning a safe path to the ground, protecting buildings.
What are Static and Flammable Materials?
Friction occurs when two surfaces rub together, like silk on glass or air on water. When fueling airplanes, static electricity builds up from the fuel. If the nozzle gets too close to the plane, a spark could ignite the fuel. To stop this, the nozzle and fuel truck are connected to the ground.
What is the concept of Reducing Static in the Home: Dryers?
Static charges build up when different materials rub together, which is why clothes stick together after drying. An antistatic dryer sheet adds a waxy layer to reduce friction and stop static from building up.
How are Spray Painting and Static related?
When paint is sprayed quickly, it bounces off and wastes paint. In car painting, the paint gets a negative charge and the car gets a positive charge. The opposite charges make the paint stick to the car, wasting less paint and creating a smooth finish.
What is the concept of an Electrostatic precipitator: Cleaning the Air with Static?
Factory gas can have tiny pollutants. The gas passes through pipes that give the particles a negative charge. Then, positive plates attract and remove the particles. The plates are cleaned often. Factories like cement and steel plants use similar methods to remove dust.
