Read It! Read Zap! and learn shocking information about static electricity. When finished, touch =CONTINUE=>.

Zap!
Have you ever gotten zapped when someone touched your hand? Or felt a shock? Have you ever taken off your winter hat and your hair stood up? This is called static electricity!

Everything is made up of atoms. Atoms are made up of smaller parts. They are called protons, electrons, and neutrons. These parts are very different from each other. Protons have a positive charge. Electrons have a negative charge. Neutrons have no charge.

Most of the time atoms have no charge. They have the same number of electrons and protons. When things get rubbed together some of the electrons move. They move from one atom to another. Now some atoms have more electrons. They have a negative charge. Other atoms lose electrons. They have a positive charge. This is called static electricity. Two atoms with the same charge push away. They repel. Two atoms that have a different charge pull toward each other. They attract.

So, why does your hair float after you take off your hat? When you take your hat off, it rubs on your hair. Electrons move from your hat to your hair. Now your hairs have the same positive charge. Things with the same charge move away from each other. They repel. They stand up from your head to get away from each other.

Electrons move from the carpet to you as you walk across it. Now you have extra electrons. When you touch someone, you get a ZAP! The electrons move from you to the other person. That is why you get a shock!

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