charge, conductors & insulators

  • Imagine you are sipping tea or coffee while discussing various issues with a broad and diverse network of students, colleagues, and friends brought together by the common bond of physics, graduate school, and the physics GRE.

Post Reply
dg2008
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2008 7:26 am

charge, conductors & insulators

Post by dg2008 » Sun Dec 14, 2008 11:36 am

Problem:

Hospital operating theatres, floors are made out of conducting material and staff wear shoes made of conducting material not insulating material.

How is charge built up on insulating soles and how does using conducting material reduce charge & sparks?

Answer so far:

No free movement of electrons in insulating materials therefore the charge is built up over time, by using conducting materials the electrons are free to move from one place to another therefore not building up charge.

grestudent09
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri May 08, 2009 10:12 pm

Re: charge, conductors & insulators

Post by grestudent09 » Fri May 08, 2009 10:49 pm

Sorry I am way too late to reply, since I have joined only recently.
As for this question, I didn't know about it before. So it is an interesting info. But i was wondering, wouldn't the risks of getting electrocuted increase by having conducting materials under your feet?



Post Reply