You’re walking along, you reach out to someone… and bang! A small shock runs through your fingers. Surprising, sometimes slightly unpleasant, often misunderstood: this feeling that someone is « electrocuting » you is not uncommon. But then, what exactly is happening? And above all, is it dangerous? Rest assured: not at all. But it is very interesting.
Static electricity, a common phenomenon
This little shock is actually a discharge of static electricity. Nothing mysterious: it’s simply physics. When two differently charged bodies touch, the electrons try to rebalance each other, and presto, a spark occurs.
In short: we all carry a small electrical reserve within us.
