Static electricity develops when the balance between Protons, which have positive (+) charges, and Electrons, which have negative (-) charges (normally they are equal in numbers) in atoms, is disturbed. This can happen because of induction, friction and separation. What actually happens is that sometimes the Electrons migrate to another atom, leaving less or no negative (-) charge to counter the positive (+) charge of Protons. Factors that assist the move include humidity and temperature.

While static electricity does have certain benefits, it also carries a high risk factor. Billions of dollars are lost annually because of process problems it causes in industry, like damage to costly equipments and materials, quality variation in products, shocks, sometimes fatal, to workmen, fire, and explosion. Static electricity attracts dust. Electronic components, which are usually expensive, are particularly vulnerable to it. Therefore it is often necessary to eliminate static electricity.

Static charge can be neutralized through different methods. One is to reestablish the equilibrium by supplying Electrons. Another is to ground or earth the charge. Leaking out static electricity by using charged particles called