Static Electricity

[sreedhar]

Is the Static Electricity one which doesnt require circuit for current to flow,only single path(single wire) connected between +ve and -ve charge seperated by some distance as such inthe case of thunderstorms.If Not -How circuit is completed from clouds to the Earth in case of thunder storms(Huge static-electricity) -EXPLAIN

[New Forester]

Current flows between positive and negative until the voltages are equal. With static electricity the "store" of high voltage is very soon exhausted, but with a battery, mains or generator supply it's constantly replenished, and this requires the electrons to return around a circuit. It's a bit like the difference between the water flow when tipping a bucket over, and what you get when turning on a tap. Ultimately there is in fact a circuit with lightning and other "static" charges. The voltage builds up slowly, with the clouds gradually acquiring charge from the ground. The lightning happens when this voltage suddenly discharges. The ground forms part of the circuit, as with an electric fence: the circuit goes from the fencer unit to the wire, to my cow's nose, down her legs, then through the ground back to the earth spike of the fencer. Don't forget that some lightning is positively charged relative to the ground, and some negatively so.

[Wraith]

I was always taught that voltage travelled from negative to positive and lighning travels from the ground upwards to the clouds.

[Wraith]

It would appear that some of my information wasn't correct. Click here to see more about static electricity.

[New Forester]

Wraith - an excellent reference. The movement of electrons is indeed electrical current, and they do move from negative to positive -- but that's not quite the same as saying the current always "flows" the same way. If it's AC power the electrons are just shuttling back and forth and the live alternates between positive and negative -- but you still need a circuit, and the "power" is still moving from power station to toaster or whatever. That's why we talk of live and neutral for AC rather than positive and negative. A current can also be the movement of positively charged bodies (such as metal ions or hydrogen ions) from positive to negative. For more see Wraith's web reference.

[PaulB]

EXPLAIN? Sorry, not being funny here but please would be nice?