STATIC ELECTRICITY Definition & Meaning

static electricity

noun

Electricity.

a stationary electric charge built up on an insulating material.

static electricity

Electric charge that has accumulated on an object. Static electricity is often created when two objects that are not good electrical conductors are rubbed together, and electrons from one of the objects rub off onto the other. This happens, for example, when combing one's hair or taking off a sweater. Sudden releases of built-up static electricity can take the form of an electric arc .
See Note at electric charge

static electricity

An electrical charge that accumulates on an object when it is rubbed against another object — for example, the spark that jumps from someone's hand to a doorknob after the person has walked across a rug.

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of static electricity¹

First recorded in 1875–80

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

I had a mortgage calculator on my phone, and I’d rattle off what a monthly payment might be on whatever house we were scheduled to see, the anticipation like static electricity.

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One type of noncontact sensor relies on static electricity to detect closeness and small motions, and has the potential to enhance smart devices, such as allowing phone screens to recognize more finger gestures.

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Many creatures can accumulate static electricity through friction as they move through their environment, even by flying through the air.

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This material generates static electricity through friction between its material layers, producing effective electrical energy, and possesses an extremely low output impedence, facilitating efficient transmission of the generated electricity.

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Researchers report December 6 in the journal Matter that coffee beans with higher internal moisture produce less static electricity, which means less coffee is wasted and there is less mess to clean up.

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