Static Electricity

Static electricity

An object can store electric charges that cannot flow. These charges are called static charges (Static electricity).

For example, when you wear or take off a sweater in very cold and dry season, you can get small amount of electric shock. It is caused as a result of the sweater being charged.

Another example of charge, when you rub a pen by a tissue or your hair, it is also charged. Then, if some small pieces of tissue are placed near the pen, they are attracted.

Lightning

In a thunderstorm, the clouds are charged by friction with airflow. Lightning is the discharge of electrons occuring between two charged clouds or between a charged cloud and the earth. Due to the huge amount of charges on the cloud, it can produce heat which can burn forests, damage houses and kill people.