Static electricity shocks, while potentially startling, are indeed generally harmless despite sometimes involving voltages over 20,000 volts. The reason behind their innocuous nature lies in both the extremely low current involved and the very brief duration of the discharge. Static charges accumulate when two different materials come into contact and then separate, causing electrons to transfer from one surface to another, building up an electrical charge. This can commonly happen with everyday activities such as walking across a carpet or removing a sweater.
When a charged body then approaches or contacts a conductor, such as a metal doorknob, the electrons rush to balance themselves out, resulting in a quick and tiny shock. Despite the high voltage, the current (the actual flow of electricity) involved in a static shock is measured in microamperes. Compared to the milliamperes or even amperes involved in more hazardous electrical currents, these microampere currents are minuscule and do not pack enough power to cause bodily harm.
Moreover, the duration of a static electricity discharge occurs over just a few microseconds—a microsecond being one-millionth of a second. This brief period is not enough to allow the current to affect the body adversely. The human body’s own electrical resistance also plays a role in mitigating the impact of the shock, ensuring that these high-voltage zaps result in nothing more than a momentary sting or surprise. While they can be a nuisance, the science behind static shocks reassures that they are more of a curiosity than a concern, highlighting the fascinating interplay of everyday physics.
