Associate Safety Professional Practice Exam

How does static charge get discharged?

1. Through thermal conduction

2. As an arc through the air

3. By grounding the charge

4. Through liquid mediums

The correct answer is: As an arc through the air

The process of static charge discharge occurs primarily through the creation of an arc, which is a visible discharge of electricity that occurs when the charge buildup becomes significant enough to overcome the dielectric strength of the air. When the potential difference between two charged objects or between an object and the ground becomes high enough, the air can become ionized, allowing the electrical current to flow in the form of an arc. This is often seen during static electricity discharges, such as the shock one might receive when touching a metal object after walking on a carpet. Discharging through an arc is a rapid and dramatic means of equalizing the electrical potential between charged objects, which often occurs when the charge reaches a threshold level necessary to ionize the air, thereby permitting this transfer of energy in the form of light and sound. This phenomenon is what makes option B the correct answer, as it accurately describes a common and recognizable mechanism by which static charges can discharge quickly and visibly. Other options may involve processes that could affect static electricity in some contexts, like grounding or the role of liquids, but they do not capture the rapid and observable nature of discharge that occurs specifically via an arc through the air. Such discharges are typically the most immediate and impactful types of static discharge one might encounter