Static Electricity Zoom Astronomy Static electricity is a stationary electric charge that is built up on a material. A common example of static electricity is the slight electrical shock that we can get when we touch a doorknob during dry weather. Producing Static Electricity Everything is made up of atoms, and atoms are made of tiny particles, some of which are electrically charged.
Opposite charges attract one another.
Similar charges repel one another. The object that did the rubbing will accumulate a slight negative charge as it gets extra electrons. During dry weather, these excess charges do not dissipate very easily, and you get static electricity. Rub a balloon on your hair. This removes some of the electrons from your hair and gives the balloon a slight negative charge.