Applications of Electrostatics

• Photocopier

• Laser Printer

Same as photocopier except that image is put onto the drum by a laser.

Full Colour can be achieved by a 4 pass printing process printing Yellow, Magenta, Cyan and Black. Marking similar to those seen on many newspapers are used to check the alignment in the 4 passes.

 

• Spray Painting

Electrically charged particles of paint used to ensure even coverage of paint and allows for painting “around corners”.

• Electrostatic Precipitator

Used to clean smoke coming from industrial chimneys.

Hazards of Electrostatics

• Sparks – Fires Hazard

Rubbing can cause a large build-up of charge that can cause sparks. This can be a problem in many factories, tyres of petrol tankers, etc.

Why does this tanker have a strip trailing on the ground?

• Lightning

Lightning is a display of electrostatics on a gigantic scale. Charges are built up when ice particles in clouds rub against each other. When the charge gets too large it will discharge to the ground.

Lightning in Singapore

Singapore has one of the highest incidences of thunderstorms in the world – about 180 thunderstorm days per year.

Thunderstorms occur more frequently in the inter-monsoon months from April to May and from October to November than during other times of the year. During these months, an average of 20 thunderstorm days per month are recorded.

The time of the day when thunderstorms and lightning are found to occur most often is between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

For Your Safety

Avoid wide open spaces and high ground and seek shelter in a building or motor vehicle immediately if caught in the open.

Keep Away from aerials, water pipes, metal fencing and gates, metal towers, trees and tall masts.

Get out of the water if you are swimming, engaged in water sports or in a boat in the open sea.

Refrain from playing in playgrounds or holding metal objects such as golf clubs or umbrellas.

Avoid using electronic equipment such as computers, telephones or televisions in sever thunderstorms.

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Electrostatics

 

Links
https://phys.libretexts.org/TextMaps/General_Physics_TextMaps/Map%3A_University_Physics_(OpenStax)/Map%3A_University_Physics_II_(OpenStax)/7%3A_Electric_Potential/7.6%3A_Applications_of_Electrostatics
Meteorological Service Singapore – Lightning Information Service http://www.weather.gov.sg/lightning/lightning/lightningalertinformationsystem.jsp
Dangers of Lightning https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/lightning/safety/dangers.html