Static Electricity Closing Car Door

Your car s body remains at ground or negative charge.

Static electricity closing car door.

In this video from the physics girl youtube channel host dianna cowern explains exactly why exiting your car can cause a nasty static shock when you touch the outside of it. All that static electricity has to go somewhere of course and that s what s exactly happening as you close your door. As you slide across your car s leather seat to get out and go on your way your coat rubbing on the upholstery builds up an electrical charge. When you get out of.

The charge jumps from you to the metal door. Most shocks happen because you and the car have picked up opposite charges so try holding the metal frame as you get out of the car to balance the charge out. Google will refer you to sources that can explain it in more depth if you know where to look. Television car expert lauren fix has more in this editio.

The reason involves the differential potentials of materials in your car. There s a lengthier and more scientific explanation to that and mr. What can you do to stop it.