Triboelectric Effect Simulator - Static Electricity & Charge Transfer

Triboelectric Effect Simulator

Created by Ir. MD Nursyazwi

This interactive simulator demonstrates the triboelectric effect, the phenomenon of static electricity generation through friction. Select two materials and observe the transfer of electrons as they are rubbed together, resulting in one object becoming positively charged and the other negatively charged.

How to Use the Simulator

• Select Materials: Use the two dropdown menus to choose two different materials to rub together. The Triboelectric Series table below will help you predict the outcome.
• Adjust Rubbing Speed: The rubbing speed slider controls the intensity of the friction. A faster rubbing speed leads to a quicker charge transfer.
• Start/Reset: Click the "Start" button to begin the rubbing and charge transfer animation. Use the "Reset" button to stop the simulation and clear all charges.

Controls

Material 1:

Material 2:

Rubbing Speed: 5 units/s

Material 1 Charge 0.00 nC

Material 2 Charge 0.00 nC

Voltage 0.00 V

---

Current (Discharge) 0.00 A

Science Explained: The Triboelectric Effect

The triboelectric effect is a type of contact electrification in which certain materials become electrically charged after they come into frictional contact with a different material. The word "tribo" comes from the Greek word for rubbing.

When two materials are rubbed together, electrons can be transferred from one material to the other. The material that loses electrons becomes positively charged, and the material that gains electrons becomes negatively charged.

The Triboelectric Series

The outcome of this charge transfer is predictable using a triboelectric series, which is a list of materials ranked by their tendency to lose or gain electrons. A material higher on the list (more positive) will tend to give up electrons and become positively charged, while a material lower on the list (more negative) will tend to accept electrons and become negatively charged.

The further apart two materials are on the series, the greater the charge transfer that will occur.

Triboelectric Series (+)
Asbestos	+4
Rabbit Fur	+4
Glass	+3
Human Hair	+2
Nylon	+1
Silk	+1
Neutral (0)
Cotton	0
Wood	0
Aluminum	0
Gold	0
Negative (-)
Rubber	-1
Teflon	-2
Vinyl	-3
Polyester	-4
Polyurethane	-5

Important Concepts

• Charge Conservation: The total charge of an isolated system remains constant. If one object gains 10 electrons (becomes -10 charge), the other object must lose 10 electrons (become +10 charge). The total net charge is always zero.
• Voltage: The voltage, or electric potential difference, is a measure of the potential energy per unit charge between two points. In this simulation, it represents the potential difference created by the separation of charge between the two materials.
• Current: In a static electricity system like this, current is not a continuous flow but a momentary pulse of charge. In this simulator, a current value appears only during the electrical discharge, or spark, showing the brief, rapid movement of electrons.

References

1. Investigation into Design and Development
   A blog post detailing the design process and development for a related project.
2. Aliexpress Link 1
   A link to a related electronic component or tool on Aliexpress.
3. Aliexpress Link 2
   A link to another electronic component or tool on Aliexpress.
4. Amazon Link 1
   A link to a product on Amazon related to the project.
5. Amazon Link 2
   A link to a product on Amazon related to the project.
6. Amazon Link 3
   A link to a product on Amazon related to the project.