Frictional electrification

Abstract

An explanation of frictional electrification is suggested and experimentally proved. Because of the presence of structural imperfections, solid insulators are not electrically neutral. Under normal conditions the 'intrinsic' electric field of an insulator is compensated for by ions absorbed from air. Friction of one body against another mixes their surface layers so that the compensation is disturbed, i.e. the bodies become electrified.