National Static Electricity Day

National Static Electricity Day was created in honor of the amazing phenomenon that accompanies us throughout our lives! Sometimes it is really annoying—some things “stick” to the body, creating an unnecessary effect. It is noteworthy that the Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus first announced it, but researchers were able to unravel it much later.

History

Centuries ago, people noticed that some materials are attracted after friction. Scientists identified more and more objects capable of exhibiting such power. Some even suggested that there were fluids between things to explain this behavior. Charles Dufay identified two types of changes—repulsion and attraction—and replaced “fluid” with the word “charge.”

In 1780, the French military engineer and physicist Charles Coulomb made accurate measurements of the charge. The work was not in vain—later, a unit of measurement was created, named after the experimenter, which we use now: the coulomb. Throughout history, many figures have been involved in research, and it is impossible to mention each of them. It’s worth reading about them on National Static Electricity Day!

Interesting facts

Did you know that static electricity is used to:

• Control pollution using a special device that has a board with a static component that sprays particles into the air;
• Produce air fresheners—the molecules inside the can cut out smoke and dust, creating an accumulation of charges;
• Power the science of xerography, used in photocopiers;
• Paint vehicles.

How to celebrate

On National Static Electricity Day, watch documentaries that explain complex things in simple terms. Find scientific literature and read it. Meet a physicist you know and talk about the phenomenon. Do your own experiments!

When is National Static Electricity Day in 2025?

National Static Electricity Day is observed annually on January 9.

Observations