You walk across the rug, reach for the doorknob and..........ZAP!!! You get a static shock.

Or, you come inside from the cold, pull off your hat and......static hair!! The static electricity makes your hair stand straight out from your head.

What is going on here? And why is static more of a problem in the winter?

(Learn how to eliminate static electricity problems in your home or office.)

To understand static electricity, we have to learn a little bit about the nature of matter. Or in other words, what is all the stuff around us made of?

Imagine a pure gold ring. Divide it in half and give one of the halves away. Keep dividing and dividing and dividing. Soon you will have a piece so small you will not be able to see it without a microscope. It may be very, very small, but it is still a piece of gold.

If you could keep dividing it into smaller and smaller pieces, you would finally get to the smallest piece of gold possible. It is called an atom. If you divided it into smaller pieces, it would no longer be gold.

Everything around us is made of atoms and scientists so far know of 118 different kinds. These different kinds of atoms are called "elements." There are 98 elements that exist naturally (although some are only found in very small amounts). Four of these 118 elements have reportedly been discovered, but have not yet been confirmed.

Atoms join together in many different combinations to form molecules, and create all of the materials you see around you.

So what are atoms made of? In the middle of each atom is a "nucleus." The nucleus contains two kinds of tiny particles, called protons and neutrons. Orbiting around the nucleus are even smaller particles called electrons. The 115 kinds of atoms are different from each other because they have different numbers of protons, neutrons and electrons.

It is useful to think of a model of the atom as similar to the solar system. The nucleus is in the center of the atom, like the sun in the center of the solar system. The electrons orbit around the nucleus like the planets around the sun.

Just like in the solar system, the nucleus is large compared to the electrons. The atom is mostly empty space. And the electrons are very far away from the nucleus. While this model is not completely accurate, we can use it to help us understand static electricity.

(Note: A more accurate model would show the electrons moving in 3- dimensional volumes with different shapes, called orbitals. This may be discussed in a future issue.)

Protons, neutrons and electrons are very different from each other. They have their own properties, or characteristics. One of these properties is called an electrical charge. Protons have what we call a "positive" (+) charge. Electrons have a "negative" (-) charge. Neutrons have no charge, they are neutral.

The charge of one proton is equal in strength to the charge of one electron. When the number of protons in an atom equals the number of electrons, the atom itself has no overall charge, it is neutral.

The protons and neutrons in the nucleus are held together very tightly. Normally the nucleus does not change. But some of the outer electrons are held very loosely. They can move from one atom to another.

An atom that loses electrons has more positive charges (protons) than negative charges (electrons). It is positively charged. An atom that gains electrons has more negative than positive particles. It has a negative charge. A charged atom is called an "ion."

Some materials hold their electrons very tightly. Electrons do not move through them very well. These things are called insulators. Plastic, cloth, glass and dry air are good insulators. Other materials have some loosely held electrons, which move through them very easily. These are called conductors. Most metals are good conductors.

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 static charge that builds 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.

Now, positive and negative charges behave in interesting ways. Did you ever hear the saying that opposites attract? Well, it's true. Two things with opposite, or different charges (a positive and a negative) will attract, or pull towards each other. Things with the same charge (two positives or two negatives) will repel, or push away from each other.

A charged object will also attract something that is neutral. Think about how you can make a balloon stick to the wall.

If you charge a balloon by rubbing it on your hair, it picks up extra electrons and has a negative charge. Holding it near a neutral object will make the charges in that object move.

If it is a conductor, many electrons move easily to the other side, as far from the balloon as possible.

If it is an insulator, the electrons in the atoms and molecules can only move very slightly to one side, away from the balloon.

In either case, there are more positive charges closer to the negative balloon.

Opposites attract. The balloon sticks. (At least until the electrons on the balloon slowly leak off.) It works the same way for neutral and positively charged objects.

So what does all this have to do with static shocks? Or static electricity in hair?

When you take off your wool hat, it rubs against your hair. Electrons move from your hair to the hat. A static charge builds up and now each of the hairs has the same positive charge.

Remember, things with the same charge repel each other. So the hairs try to get as far from each other as possible. The farthest they can get is by standing up and away from the others. And that is how static electricity causes a bad hair day!

When we rub two different materials together, which becomes positively charged and which becomes negative? Scientists have ranked materials in order of their ability to hold or give up electrons.... Read More

Get more great science articles each month with the Science Made Simple newsletter. Click here to learn more.

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From concrete to siding, from fences to decks, we can clean almost anything safely and effectively.

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Terraclean Power Washing is a New Jersey professional exterior detailing and restoration company. For over 15 years, we have been providing thousands of NJ residential, commercial and industrial clients with affordable, safe, state of the art service. Unlike our competitors, power washing is not just a hobby for us. It's our businessand our specialty. No matter what we clean, we clean it as safely as possible. This means utilizing organic detergents, scrubbing surfaces with soft bristle brushes, and rinsing with hot water at low pressure. We can even supply our own water when there is no water supply onsite. We guarantee that there is no better way to clean than the Terraclean process!

Typical residential surfaces include, roof cleaning, interior gutter cleaning, exterior gutter cleaning, siding, hardscapes, decks and fences. Typical commercial properties include shopping centers, townhomes, apartment complexes, drive-through pads, and fleets.

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Community Q&A

Periodic cleaning of vinyl siding helps to maintain the value and beauty of your home's exterior. A pressure washer is the ideal tool to clean vinyl siding by blasting away mold, dirt, and grime. Most pressure washers are user-friendly and can be operated with little effort. All of the necessary materials, including the pressure washer, can be bought or rented through your local hardware store. In order to successfully pressure wash vinyl siding you will need to prep the surface, select and utilize the appropriate pressure washer settings, and spend some time carefully operating the machine. Read the article below for specific instructions on how to pressure wash vinyl siding.

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1

Select the appropriate equipment and settings. A gasoline or electric washer with a pressure rating of at least 3,000 PSI, and a flow rate of at least 4 gallons (15.1L) per minute, will provide enough force to effectively clean high, hard-to-reach vinyl surfaces. Set the spray nozzle to low pressure and use a 25-degree spray tip. Add an appropriate cleaning solution (such as mild dish detergent) to the reservoir.

2

3

Test the spray on a small area to get used to its power. You may increase or decrease the power of the spray by adjusting either the nozzle setting or the distance at which you are holding the wand from the siding.

4

Work in a steady manner, pressure washing one section at a time from bottom to top, and sweeping from left to right. Always ensure that the nozzle is pointed downward at a 45-degree angle to minimize the amount of water that gets behind the siding. Excessive water can bulge siding, dampen insulation or framework, and cause mold or electrical damage over time.

5

Rinse the siding with fresh water. Work from the top down to prevent streaks, and rinse within approximately 5-to-10 minutes of cleaning, before the detergent is able to dry.

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Exterior Home Cleaning (power washing)

To enhance the beauty of your home and protect the value of your investment it is essential to maintain the exterior surfaces by cleaning them at regular intervals.Depending upon your location, we recommend pressure washing your home 1-2 times per year to eliminate salt, dirt and mildew.

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Scotts Pressure Wash has provided industry-leading service to a wide variety of commercial clients for fifty years. We offer competitive pricing, unrivaled customer service and cutting edge, environmentally responsible cleaning products. Scotts is ready to meet the demands of any client. State of the art hot water power washing equipment, a fleet of more than twenty five mobile units, water recovery capability, and dry ice blasting all with a 100% guarantee of satisfaction.

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Perfect Power Wash is the areas first choice for top quality power washing, pressure cleaning, and exterior property restoration services. We provide a variety of power wash services, from house washing to roof cleaning, to fulfill all of your residential and commercial pressure washing needs, in addition to our seasonal ice dam removal and dryer vent cleaning services.

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Chicago Pressure Washing | Chicago Power Washing Chicago pressure washing services is a full service pressure washing company located in Chicago serving Chicago and all of its suburbs. When looking for a Chicago pressure washing company I am sure you are... Chicago Pressure Washing Veteran Are you looking for a simple and easy process from start to finish? Are you looking for a pressure washing company in Chicago that has been there before? Maybe your looking for a Chicago Pressure Washing Veteran! Hi, My name is Douglas... 5 Things You Need To Know Before Hiring an Chicago pressure washing company. Before allowing an Chicago pressure washing company to clean your premises, there are five important questions that you should ask. Not all pressure washing companies are alike. Twenty five... Best Pressure Washing Chicago When I talk about the best pressure washing company in Chicago I mean the best fit. Everybody and their brother feel they are the best. at what though? We feel we are the best fit for you a hard working individual who does not want to... Chicago Pressure Washing Service From concrete and cement pressure washing to brick and block pressure washing to unusual items such as shopping cart cleaning and restaurant equipment cleaning. We offer a wide range on general pressure washing services including but... When you are looking for someone to maintain the outside of your home you are looking for someone you can trust to take care of most likely your largest investment. I know I own a home too and do the same thing when looking for someone to work on my home. If you are... When I say commercial pressure washing I mean from storefronts to restaurants and everything in between. When I say Chicago I am referring to the entire Chicago land areas. Commercially we clean everything from awnings, buildings, concrete, tile & grout Etc. Keep...

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