Associate Safety Professional Practice Exam

What characterizes static electricity in terms of voltage and current?

1. Low voltages and high current values

2. High voltages and variable current values

3. High voltages and very low current values

4. Medium voltages and low current values

The correct answer is: High voltages and very low current values

Static electricity is characterized by the accumulation of electric charge on the surface of objects, which typically generates high voltages. When static charge builds up, it can reach very high levels—sometimes thousands of volts—without being accompanied by a significant flow of electrical current. This is due to the nature of static electricity, where charges are stored and only discharge in short bursts, such as when touching a conductive object or when a spark occurs. The key aspect of static electricity is that when it does discharge, the resulting current is extremely brief in duration and has a very low magnitude. Although the voltage can be high, the current is usually negligible, which means it does not carry a substantial amount of electrical energy over a sustained period. This characteristic configuration of high voltage and low current is a defining feature of static electricity.