Static electricity is an imbalance of electric charges within or on the surface of a material or between materials. The charge remains until it is able to move away by an electric current or electrical discharge. Static electricity is different from current electricity, where an electric charge flows through an electrical conductor. Here are some key points about static electricity:

• Cause: Static electricity is caused by an imbalance of positive and negative charges within a material that occurs when electrons move from one material to another.

• Triboelectric effect: Electrons or ions can be exchanged between materials on contact or when they slide against each other, which is known as the triboelectric effect and results in one material becoming positively charged and the other negatively charged.

• Effects: The effects of static electricity are familiar to most people because they can feel, hear, and even see sparks if the excess charge is neutralized when brought close to an electrical conductor or a region with an excess charge of the opposite polarity. Static electricity can also cause damage to sensitive semiconductor circuitry.

• Examples: Examples of static electricity include rubbing a balloon against clothes and sticking it to a wall, or walking across a carpet and getting a shock when touching a metal object. Lightning is also a form of static electricity.

Static electricity is a phenomenon that can be observed in everyday life, and it is important to understand its causes and effects to prevent damage to sensitive equipment and to stay safe.