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If I wander outside in cold weather for 10-20 minutes my body accumulates charges. I get electric shock if I touch metal, e.g., door knob, car door etc.

Now I've two questions:

  1. Why does human body accumulate charges in cold weather?
  2. What can I do to discharge my body without getting the shock?

Thanks for your time.

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Because you are so attractive? :) – Marek Feb 20 '11 at 15:19

2 Answers

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Here is a similar thread:

How to avoid getting shocked

And: Your bodys surface collects the charge, it is generated by Your shoes and the street and Your clothes.

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It is a dry weather who prevents you from discharging, not obligatory cold one. Everything "collects" charges while in friction with something else. Any means increasing conductivity helps keep charge low. Discharge yourself with help of a resistance to decrease the current (with a wet stick or something).

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Friction does not cause static charge. Molecular adhesive forces grabbing electrons does. Friction may increase this, but is not the cause. Mechanisms promoting it may be friction, separation, and induction. – Gordon Feb 20 '11 at 16:49
1  
One has to be careful googling "grounding oneself" because you will just as likely be sent to a New Age yoga site or a Deepak Chopra course :) – Gordon Feb 20 '11 at 16:58
@Gordon: what's the difference between "molecular adhesive force grabbing electrons" and "friction"? The first is just a detailed mechanism of part of the second. – Ron Maimon Aug 28 '11 at 20:36

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