What does static electricity refer to?

Static electricity refers to the buildup of electric charges on an object, which occurs when there is an imbalance between positive and negative charges. This phenomenon is typically observed when two materials are in contact and then separated, causing electrons to be transferred from one material to the other. The result is that one object becomes positively charged (having lost electrons), while the other becomes negatively charged (having gained electrons).

This static charge can lead to various effects, such as causing dust to stick to surfaces or small shocks when touching a metal object after walking on a carpet. Static electricity is distinct from the flow of electric current, which involves the movement of charges through a conductor and is not characteristic of static conditions. It also does not involve magnetic materials or energy generated by thermal processes, as those concepts pertain to different physical phenomena.