Goodness me, the pedants are out today. Must be all that static electricity
and non white light from the sun that does it..grin

Brian

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Brian Gaff....Note, this account does not accept Bcc: email.
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"Tim Streater" wrote in message
.. .
In article , harryagain
wrote:

"Graham." wrote in message

It can't be static electricity if it's jumping gaps and stimulating
your nerves and muscles. I don't find the concept of static
electricity as a separate entirety particularly helpful.

I blame the primary school teachers, the same ones who insist their
are seven colours in the visible spectrum.

It's called static electricty because it's generated on insulating
materials and hence remains there until either it leaks away slowly or it
is provided with a low resistance path. In this case, Mr Gaff.

Yes, insulating materials are where you notice it. If you have a
buildup of charge, then that creates a voltage, and an electric field.
This is true whether the buildup is on your hair or in the clouds. If
you are under a cloud where a large charge has built up, then the field
will induce a charge in you and your hair stands on end. If the voltage
difference gets large enough then the insulator may break down and you
get a spark or lightning.

You won't notice the same with a conductor as the charge can leak away
immediately.

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