How to Avoid Static Electricity or Static Shock While Getting Out of a Car

You can easily get a static shock while getting out of a car.

While you drive your car, the interaction between your clothes and the car seat builds up an excessive charge of electrons. When you get out of the vehicle, the built-up electron charge comes with you. The moment you touch something, this static electricity discharges. So if you get out of the car first and touch car door, the built-up charges dissipate through your hand, creating a harmless but annoying electricity shock. But you can take steps to avoid such shocks in the future.

Things You'll Need

• Anti-static strip
• Static eliminator

Instructions

1. Release the buildup of the electrical charge safely by touching any metallic object in the car while you are getting out. For example, you can open the door and touch the metallic roof of your car while getting out. This way, you will reduce the charge on you by providing a dissipation path for the charge.

2. Hold a metal part of the car's door frame as you are getting out of the car. This will also dissipate the charge.

3. Buy and use an anti-static device properly. You can also buy an anti-static strip and attach it to your car so that one end of the strip is connected to a metal part of the car and the other end touches the ground. This strip safely discharges the buildup charges to the ground.

4. Use a static eliminator. A personal static eliminator is useful because you can keep one with you all the time by attaching it to your key chain. Use the static eliminator by touching it with a metal object every time you suspect you are charged with static.

References

• Electrostatics.net: Static shocks, and how to avoid them