What is static electricity?

Static electricity is the buildup of electric charge on the surface of objects. It usually happens when two materials rub together and electrons, the tiny negatively charged particles, transfer from one surface to the other, leaving one object positively charged and the other negatively charged. Because these charges are stationary, or static, they remain until they find a way to flow. When a charged object comes close to something that can conduct the charge away, the electrons jump across, sometimes producing a visible spark and the familiar zap. This is why you can get a shock after walking across a carpet or why a balloon rubbed on hair makes it stand up. Lightning is a dramatic, large-scale example of static discharge between clouds and the ground.