Northwestern Scientists Unveil Mechanics Behind Static Electricity

Researchers explain the phenomenon of static electricity through the concept of elastic shear and nanoscale deformations.

A team at Northwestern University has solved the 2,600-year-old mystery of static electricity.
Their study, published in Nano Letters, shows that different forces acting on the front and back of a sliding object create varying electrical charges.
These differences in electrical charges generate a current, leading to the familiar static shock.
The research introduces a new model based on 'elastic shear,' where resistance to sliding causes friction and electrical charge movement.
Understanding static electricity has practical implications, from improving industrial safety to enhancing the consistency of pharmaceutical dosing.