What a very interesting situation. I would say the basic cause of the
electric shocks was static electricity, combined the triboelectric
series of materials. Most people understand static electriciy, however
they are a bit behind on the TSM scales.
Basically Triboelectric Series is a hierarchically arranged list of
items that are filled with positive electrons (the stuff of static
electricity) and therefore give them off, or they are lacking positive
electrons and consistentlys eek to gain them.
The lists differ a bit according to which source you read, however,
most put human hands high on the +++++ electron list (meaning hands
have many electrons and seek to emit them.
The materials you spoke about, paper, telephone receiver, wooden cup,
are either low on the + list (paper) or on the negative list
(telephone receive is some type of plastic and the wooden cup).
What seems to have happened is that the hand with positive electrons,
passed them to the negative items, which built up a static charge and
was then discharged when the other hand touched it.
Why did not the two hands get shocked when they touched. Certainly you
can get a static electricity shock when shaking hands. So, there could
be a variety of explanations for the lack of a shock. Here are three:
1. The two people in question could have experienced a shock before
shaking hands and discharged the electrons. When they shook hands
there was then no impetus for a shock.
2. The TMS shows that two items on an equal level (hands for example)
have less probablility of exchanging electrons that two items situated
further away on the scale. So, it could be that circumstances meant
that there was not enough electrons present in the hands to produce
the shock.
3. It could be that one of the person's hands were very moist (not
conducive to static electric shock without a medium (such as the paper
etc.)
You asked why in this particular house. Again, without being there I
can only offer two possible explanations. Perhaps the house was
unusually dry, a precondition for static electricity. Or, there was
some type of electric conduction in the house (a new type of carpet or
something).
Additional Information
The Triboelectric Series of Materials Causing Static Electricity
http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/static_materials.htm
Triboelectric Series
http://www.rfcafe.com/references/electrical/triboelectric_series.htm
STATIC ELECTRICITY" MISCONCEPTIONS
http://www.amasci.com/emotor/stmiscon.html
Search Terms
Static electricity
triboelectric series
static electricity, triboelectric series
triboelectric series materials |
Clarification of Answer by
pm3500-ga
on
30 Jan 2003 07:54 PST
First, here's a clarification of the additional comments.
"How can we move electrons from one place to another? One very common
way is to rub two objects together. If they are made of different
materials, and are both insulators, electrons may be transferred (or
moved) from one to the other. The more rubbing, the more electrons
move, and the larger the charges built up. (Scientists believe that it
is not the rubbing or friction that causes electrons to move. It is
simply the contact between two different materials. Rubbing just
increases the contact area between them.)
"Static electricity is the imbalance of positive and negative
charges."
So, my apologies it's not "positive" electrons, its the transfer of
electrons between postive and negative charged objects.
An Introduction to Static Electricity
http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/static.html
Second, as to your clarifying question. Being a former science and
math teacher only grade school (not so advanced) I would say NOBODY is
ignorant, they are in the learning process:), myself included.
You ask, "can you please clarify as to why something like this never
happened before (was the 'environment'/ that particular house, the
only reason)/ why
did it have to happen only when one particular person (my wife) was
involved and is there any way to avoid/stop the same from happenning
again?"
The short answer is that is was undoubtly environmental, but I do not
know if it was the only reason. For example, your wife could have
picked up the propensity to get static electricity from the
environment (a particular type of carpet in the house) and the soles
of her shoes, or her stockings. It was not necessarily her cotton
clothes however, they could have helped. It also could have been the
type of moisturizer she used. There are a variety of possible
"combination" factors of the environment of that particular house at
that specific time and your wife's dress etc.
As to the question of how to stop it, here's the best reference I
found on the subject.
Controlling Static Electricity - Stop Getting Shocks
http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/staticcont.htm
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