How is amber able to hold an electric charge to produce static?

The process of inducing an electric charge by rubbing/creating friction has a big fancy name: Triboelectric charging. Amber, being a relatively neutral thing in most cases (neither very positively nor negatively charged) can easily pick up excess electrons, in this case from the cat's fur, and create a negative charge on itself, which gives us static! Remember, the charges WANT to be the amber because of its neutrality. They see it as an easy path with low resistance. For more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triboelectric_effect

Where does the word " _tribo_ electric" come from *besides* the word electric ?

Tribo comes from the greek word trī́bein, which means to rub. Since static electricity is generated when two different materials are rubbed together it seems fitting.

does this work with only amber?

Nope, glass and rubber (balloons) also work well

Did Brit just find the amber on the banks of the pond? because I want one.

He probably just put it there cause his amber is pretty polished-looking.

I don't get how amber can pick up cat hairs. I thought static could only pick up iron or steel

no static can pick any thing wich have opposite or no charge even you can try this thing with your own hairs, first take a balloon and fill it up with air then rub it with a cotton cloth then put that balloon above your head then you will see that your hairs would be like attracting with balloon the same principle is used here!! hope ull get it :)

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Physics library

Course: Physics library > Unit 18

Lesson 8: Electrostatics

Discovery of triboelectric effect

Name: Discovery of triboelectric effect
Uploaded: 2013-02-11T19:02:08Z
Description: Our ancestors noticed that when amber was rubbed against fur it attracted small objects...why is this?

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Our ancestors noticed that when amber was rubbed against fur it attracted small objects...why is this? Created by Brit Cruise.

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♦SamuelM♦
Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to ♦SamuelM♦'s post “How is amber able to hold...”
How is amber able to hold an electric charge to produce static?
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(15 votes)
Answer
- Scott
  Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to Scott's post “The process of inducing a...”
  The process of inducing an electric charge by rubbing/creating friction has a big fancy name: Triboelectric charging. Amber, being a relatively neutral thing in most cases (neither very positively nor negatively charged) can easily pick up excess electrons, in this case from the cat's fur, and create a negative charge on itself, which gives us static!
  
  Remember, the charges WANT to be the amber because of its neutrality. They see it as an easy path with low resistance.
  
  For more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triboelectric_effect
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  (22 votes)
Ğļ∑лл Μ
Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to Ğļ∑лл Μ's post “Where does the word " _tr...”
Where does the word " tribo electric" come from besides the word electric ?
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(3 votes)
Answer
- Justin
  Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to Justin's post “Tribo comes from the gree...”
  Tribo comes from the greek word trī́bein, which means to rub. Since static electricity is generated when two different materials are rubbed together it seems fitting.
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  (9 votes)
pranav.kirsur
Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to pranav.kirsur's post “does this work with only ...”
does this work with only amber?
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(3 votes)
Answer
- brit cruise
  Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to brit cruise's post “Nope, glass and rubber (b...”
  Nope, glass and rubber (balloons) also work well
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  (5 votes)
NotMyRealUsername
Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to NotMyRealUsername's post “Did Brit just find the am...”
Did Brit just find the amber on the banks of the pond? because I want one.
Button navigates to signup pageComment on NotMyRealUsername's post “Did Brit just find the am...”
(3 votes)
Answer
- peanut butter
  Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to peanut butter's post “He probably just put it t...”
  He probably just put it there cause his amber is pretty polished-looking.
  Comment on peanut butter's post “He probably just put it t...”
  (2 votes)
IyTyu
Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to IyTyu's post “I don't get how amber can...”
I don't get how amber can pick up cat hairs. I thought static could only pick up iron or steel
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(1 vote)
Answer
- mIsBaH :)
  Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to mIsBaH :)'s post “no static can pick any th...”
  no static can pick any thing wich have opposite or no charge even you can try this thing with your own hairs, first take a balloon and fill it up with air then rub it with a cotton cloth then put that balloon above your head then you will see that your hairs would be like attracting with balloon
  the same principle is used here!! hope ull get it :)
  Button navigates to signup page
  (4 votes)
wanggeorge2008
Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to wanggeorge2008's post “What other stones have th...”
What other stones have the triboelectric effect or is it just amber?
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(2 votes)
Answer
- Haltorre
  Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to Haltorre's post “actually the triboelectri...”
  actually the triboelectric effect if the rubbed between the two materials, for example when you rub a balloon full of air in your hair you're electrifying the triboelectric effect
  Comment on Haltorre's post “actually the triboelectri...”
  (1 vote)
kiodro
Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to kiodro's post “How should I do this with...”
How should I do this without a cat?
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(2 votes)
Answer
eightsquare
Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to eightsquare's post “How does static electrici...”
How does static electricity attract certain objects? Does it have a magnetic field associated with it?
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(3 votes)
Answer
- kanyuaWaweru
  Posted 9 years ago. Direct link to kanyuaWaweru's post “to answer you I will advi...”
  to answer you I will advise you to research on static and current electricity for example lightning is caused by positive electrons and negative electrons rubbing together so I do not think that it has a connection
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  (1 vote)
fisherlam→ΣβФ
Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to fisherlam→ΣβФ's post “Why does the amber attrac...”
Why does the amber attract the hair? If it is because of opposite charges on the hair and the amber, does the hair contain the positive charges or negative charges? Does the amber contain the positive charges or the negative charges?

Thanks in advance. :)
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(2 votes)
Answer
- Exponentially Radical
  Posted 10 years ago. Direct link to Exponentially Radical's post “Negative attracts positiv...”
  Negative attracts positive, positive attracts negative...
  The surprise is that charged attracts neutral. So negative attracts neutral, positive attracts neutral...
  The amber could have either charge as long as something is charged, it can lift neutral hair.
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  (1 vote)
Pramikha
Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to Pramikha's post “this is due to static ele...”
this is due to static electricity. but is the amber stone positively charged or negatively charged?
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(1 vote)
Answer

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