Transferring Charge by Contact

• A single spark produced by charge could cause dangerous fires and

explosions
• Transferring a charge by friction is difficult to avoid
• Even if you’re initially uncharged and walk carefully over a carpet, many
electric charges are gradually transferred by the rubbing action of your shoes
on the carpet fibres
• When charging by contact, one object is already electrically charged
• The other object may or may not be charged as well
• There must be a difference in the amount f charge already on the two objects
• The total electric charge on your body is shared between you and the
doorknob
• The charge transferred to the doorknob is also negative
•