Have you experienced dry clothes curling up, particularly in winter? If the answer is yes, then you have something in common with the early Apollo astronauts who landed on the moon. Their problem was more serious. Moon dust clung to their spacesuits and tools and caused great concern. The reason for these phenomena is static cling, which causes difficulty in other spheres as well. For instance, sometimes film in a roll sticks together, jamming the projector. On the positive side, pollen sticking to a bee’s body is also because of static cling. You may have come across cling stickers too, that you rub and fix on the chosen surface.
Cling is a manifestation of static electricity. The story starts with atoms. Each atom has a nucleus that consists of Protons and Neutrons, and Electrons that orbit around the nucleus. Protons have positive (+) charge, Neutrons are neutral, and Electrons have negative (-) charge. Normally the Protons and Electrons have parity in numbers as well as force and therefore the atom as such is without charge. But sometimes an Electron might migrate to another atom due to friction or other reasons, upsetting the equilibrium. That results in a charge known as static electricity. This energy remains stagnant unless it is eliminated or diffused.
Coming back to clothes, if the nuisance is with the dry ones, it can be tackled by smoothing the insides downward with a light metal rod like a cloth hanger. Otherwise using a nature based softener to the wash cycle and rinse cycle may help. It is claimed that vinegar and borax are effective. There are quality brands in the market as well, with instructions for use. Not drying the clothes fully and stretching them before hanging out may be helpful. Washing clothes made from natural fiber and synthetic material separately is another method worth trying.
With instances like film sticking together, taking a reading of the humidity and using a humidifier if necessary could solve the problem. Dry air is home ground for static electricity.
Related Articles of Interest :
-
Static Electricity
10 August 2010 8:30 PM | No CommentsTo understand static electricity, one has to know the basics of atoms. An atom has a nucleus consisting of Protons and Neutrons, and Electrons, which move around that core. Protons have positive (+) charge; Neutrons are neutral; and Electrons have negative (-) charge. Normally an...
Read More -
Static Shock
10 August 2010 8:30 PM | No CommentsWhen some one mentions static shock, you may think of the popular cartoons or TV show slapstick. But here we are dealing with the shock that is caused by static electricity. Shock is a trauma resulting from electricity passing through ones body to another object....
Read More -
Static Eliminators
10 August 2010 8:30 PM | No CommentsStatic electricity develops when the balance between Protons, which have positive (+) charges, and Electrons, which have negative (-) charges (normally they are equal in numbers) in atoms, is disturbed. This can happen because of induction, friction and separation. What actually happens is that sometimes...
Read More -
Anti Static Bars
10 August 2010 8:30 PM | No CommentsIn simple words static electricity can be defined as an electrical imbalance of a material that can interrelate with other materials. An atom has the positively (+) charged Protons and negatively (-) charged Electrons in equal numbers and force. This equilibrium is vitiated when an...
Read More -
Static Neutralizers
10 August 2010 8:30 PM | No CommentsNormally atoms have equal numbers of Protons with positive charge and Electrons with negative charge. This parity is upset when an electron sometimes moves to another atom because of friction, pressure or induction, and leaves the parent atom with a positive charge, or ‘ionized’. The...
Read More -
Anti Static Mats
10 August 2010 8:30 PM | No CommentsStatic electricity develops when there is an imbalance in the negative and positive charges in an atom. This happens because of friction between two surfaces. Even walking on a carpet – when the sole of the shoe rubs against the rug – can generate this...
Read More -
Static Control
10 August 2010 8:30 PM | No CommentsLet us take a look at the two faces of static electricity. One is destructive, like lightning. What happens in this phenomenon is that when the voltage gradient of static electricity in clouds reaches a certain point, the energy is unleashed through what is called...
Read More -
Fluorescent Light Bulb
10 August 2010 8:30 PM | No CommentsFlorescent bulbs come in a range of colors. They herald the new age of the light bulb. The operation of florescent bulbs is based on the knowledge of how atoms behave when they are energized. This basic knowledge is used in all types of light...
Read More -
Light Bulb
10 August 2010 8:30 PM | No CommentsWe revel in the beauty of what we see all around us. We admire flowers, see ourselves in the mirror, and consider ourselves lucky to have optical sensation. But we don’t always remember that it is light reflected from the surface of objects that enables...
Read More -
Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About LEDs
10 August 2010 8:30 PM | No CommentsLED stands for light emitting diodes. This small device has great importance in the world of electronics. From digital clocks to color displays, we find these diodes. The diode is a semiconductor device made up of P-type and N-type of material. In the case of...
Read More