Why Do We Get Static Shocks? Friction, Dry Air and a Metal Door Handle
You reach for a door handle and feel a small zap. Here is what is going on.
Charge from rubbing
Most objects are neutral because their atoms have equal numbers of negative electrons and positive protons. When materials rub together, they exchange charge, explains physics professor Ivana Dimitrova of Northeastern University. Some lose electrons easily and become positive. Others hold electrons more tightly and pick up extra, becoming negative.
The Conversation, in an article by physicists, adds that even smooth surfaces are rough at a microscopic level. When two surfaces slide across each other, these irregularities catch, and the energy from friction can knock electrons loose.
Why your body holds the charge
The human body is a good conductor of electricity, according to The Conversation. Its example: wear rubber shoes and walk on carpet. Electrons move from the carpet to the rubber. Rubber is an insulator, so the extra charge spreads over your body. The next time you touch a metal object, electrons hop across, forming a tiny, short-lived current. That discharge is the zap. Taking off a jumper or brushing your hair can do the same.
Why winter is worse
Dimitrova says that in humid weather, water molecules in the air carry extra charge away and everything returns to neutral. In winter or dry climates there are fewer water molecules, so charge builds up and has no natural way to discharge.
How to reduce it
Dimitrova's general advice is to discharge yourself often by touching metal objects, which avoids one big painful shock. Her tips include touching a coin or key to the metal object first.
Sources
- Northeastern University College of Engineering, Tips For Avoiding Static Electricity Shocks During Winter (January 29, 2025): https://coe.northeastern.edu/news/winter-air-is-electric-but-there-are-solutions-to-those-annoying-static-shocks/
- The Conversation, Why do I get static shocks from everyday objects? Is it my shoes? (December 4, 2024): https://theconversation.com/why-do-i-get-static-shocks-from-everyday-objects-is-it-my-shoes-240554
Facts checked: October 11, 2026.