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