Has it ever happened that you touch a person or an object and, suddenly, feel a slight shock? The situation, although uncomfortable, is normal and can happen due to some physical and environmental factors.
According to Edval Delbone, professor of the Electrical Engineering course at IMT (Instituto Mauá de Tecnologia), this happens due to the static energy accumulationor static electricity.
“If you accumulate electrons in your body and have a greater accumulation of negative charge, when you touch metal, for example, or another person, there is a discharge of this static energy”, explains Delbone to CNN.
The professor explains that the tendency of all bodies, whether living (like humans) or not (like objects), is to have a neutral bodythat is, with the same amount of positive charges (protons) and negative charges (electrons).
“If there is a difference, that is, if I have more negative charges and I touch a person who has less, these electrons leave my body with greater accumulation and go to the body with less accumulation. They do this to seek balance, because there tends to be a balance between bodies”, she explains.
Why does this imbalance happen?
If it is normal to have a neutral body, what can lead to an imbalance between positive and negative charges in our body? According to Delbone, there are several factors that can lead to an increase in electrons in a body and, consequently, to the discharge of static energy.
One of them is the climate. “When the climate is humid, it is easier for a person to release electrons, because humid air is a conductor and this makes it easier for people to discharge electrical charges,” he says.
In very dry weather, the opposite happens: dry air makes it difficult to release negative charge, which causes people to accumulate more electrons in the body, making it easier to discharge when touching another person.
The clothes we wear are also a factor. Synthetic clothing, for example, facilitates the accumulation of negative charges in the body, according to the professor.
Are these shocks harmful?
Despite being uncomfortable, These shocks are not harmful to health, according to Delbone. “It’s a fairly quick discharge, of short duration, so it doesn’t present any danger,” he says.
However, the teacher warning for people who work with flammable materials, such as fuels. “In some cases, these shocks can release sparks, which, when coming into contact with flammable materials, can cause fires. So, these professionals must be more careful,” he highlights.
Is there a way to avoid these shocks?
Although it is not harmful, most of the time, it is possible to avoid shocking other people with some simple measures. According to the professor, for this, the recommendation is increase body moisture. “Drinking water regularly, using a humidifier in dry environments, keeping plants indoors, all of this makes it easier to reduce these excess electrons in the body”, explains Delbone.
Furthermore, it is interesting to avoid wearing clothes with synthetic fabric, opting for items made from cotton or silk. Footwear also influences. “Shoes with leather soles conduct energy better and help to throw this accumulation of electrons out of the body,” he says.
Walking barefoot, whether on the ground or on the floor at home, also helps prevent the accumulation of negative charges in the body. “By having more contact with the floor or the earth, you are facilitating the discharge of electrons out of the body, preventing the accumulation of these charges”, adds Delbone.
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