Date: Fri, 15 May 1998 08:58:25 -0700
Message-Id: <v01520d01b181b18021db@[192.168.1.201]>
To: pinhole@exploratorium.edu
From: mafifi@redshift.com (Marc Afifi)
Subject: Re: static electricity question
Hi Paul and Neil,
Thank you for your responses.
Paul - is rubbing the only time exchanging charge is considered a physical
change? Are you saying that when a static charge builds up on a material
its chemical properties don't change, even at the surface where the charge
is? Clearly, a chemical change in the air is caused when discharge occurs,
but the material that was charged seems to return to its original state. Is
it in fact unaffected or is there some miniscule amount of chemical change
that has occurred on the atomic level?
Neil - What is the threshold energy when electron transfer causes burns,
thus chemical change? Does a large shock burn lots of cells and a small
shock burn only a few cells? Isn't burning a few cell still causing a
chemical change?
I love it when students ask me questions like this.
-Marc
-- Marc Afifi Physics and Chemistry Pacific Grove High School 615 Sunset Dr. Pacific Grove, CA, 93950(408) 646-6590 ext. 223
Favorite Oakland Raiders Motto: "Just When Baby?"