1. Produced by or a reference to static electricity (electricity produced by friction).
2. Characterized by a stationary electric charge that builds up on an insulated object; such as, a capacitor or a thundercloud.
3. Referring to stationary electric charges, or produced or caused by static charges (electric charges at rest).
4. The effects produced by electrical charges or fields, alone, without interaction with magnetic influence.

1. A law which describes the electric force between charged objects which states that:

• Like charges repel each other and unlike charges attract each other.
• The attraction or repulsion acts along the line between the two charges.
• The size of the force varies inversely as the square of the distance between the two charges.
• The size of the force is proportional to the value of each charge.

2. In physics, a law stating that the electrostatic force between two charged bodies is proportional to the product of the amount of charge on the bodies divided by the square of the distance between them.

If the bodies are oppositely charged, one positive and one negative, they are attracted toward one another; if the bodies are similarly charged, both positive or both negative, the force between them is repulsive.

Coulomb's law applies only when the charged bodies are much smaller than the distance separating them and therefore can be treated approximately as point charges.

1. An imaginary line in which each segment of the line is parallel to the direction of the electric field or the direction of the electric displacement at that point, and the density of the collection of the line is relative to the electric field or the electrical displacement.
2. The electric lines of force that make up an electric field or region.
3. The integral over a surface of the component of the electric displacement perpendicular to the surface and equal to the number of electric lines of forces crossing the surface.

1. The work done by moving a unit positive charge from a specified location; sometimes an infinite distance, sometimes from earth's surface, to the specific point in the electric field.

Similarly, a magnetic potential exists at every point of a magnetic field, measured by the work than is needed to move a unit magnetic pole from one point in the field to another point.

2. The potential measured by the energy of a unit positive charge at a point expressed relative to an equipotential surface that has zero potential, generally the surface of the earth.
3. The work which must be done against electric forces to bring a unit charge from a reference point to the point in question.

The reference point is located at an infinite distance, or, for practical purposes, at the surface of the earth or some other large conductor.

A tool used to measure electron temperatures, electron and ion densities, space and wall potentials, and random electron currents in a plasma.

It consists substantially of one or two small collecting electrodes to which various potentials are applied, with the corresponding collection of currents being measured.

1. An instrument which uses an electrostatic field in a vacuum to greatly increase the velocity of charged particles.
2. An electrical device that uses an electrostatic field to accelerate charged particles to high velocities in a vacuum.
3. Any machine that produces electric charges by friction or, more commonly, electrostatic induction.
4. A high-voltage generator in which electric charges are generated by friction or induction, then transferred mechanically to an insulated electrode to build up a voltage which may be as high as nine mega volts.
5. An apparatus for producing up to several million volts of electrostatic energy by successive accumulation of small static charges on an insulated high-voltage metal collector.

1. An instrument consisting of an auxiliary external electrode that permits known electrostatic forces to be applied to the diaphragm of a microphone for the purpose of obtaining a primary calibration.
2. A mechanism that causes a tool to be turned on or off, or adjusted or moved.

The motor and the mechanism which moves the head assembly on a disk drive or an arm of a robot is called an actuator.

An apparatus that removes dust or other finely divided particles from a gas by charging the particles inductively with an electric field, then attracting them to highly charged collector plates.

1. An instrument used in ion optics which uses an electric field or permits the passage of ions or electrons of a certain energy while focusing them on to a smaller area.
2. A tool that filters an electron beam, permitting only electrons within an extremely narrow velocity range to pass through it.

Atomization (producing fine particles) in which a liquid jet or film is exposed to an electric field and the forces leading to atomization come from either free charges on the surface or from liquid polarization.

1. An electrostatic force of attraction applied by one charged particle to an oppositely charged particle.
2. The electrostatic force of attraction exerted by one charged particle onto another charged particle of the opposite sign.
3. The tendency of bodies to draw together when carrying opposite charges of electricity.

1. A bond between atoms or groups that carry opposite charges; or, in some cases, partial charges.
2. A chemical bond in which one atom loses an electron to form a positive ion and the other atom gains an electron to form a negative ion,
3. A valence bond in which two atoms are kept together by electrostatic forces caused by transferring one or more electrons from one atom to another atom.

A valence is the combining power of atoms or groups measured by the number of electrons the atom or group will receive, give up, or share in forming a compound.

Two conducting electrodes separated by an insulating material; such as, air, ceramic, mica, gas, paper, plastic film, or glass all of which are generally high-impedance devices.

A cathode-ray tube in which electrostatic deflection is used on the electron beam.

A cathode-ray tube is a vacuum tube in which a stream of electrons is accelerated and focused in a beam that produces traces of light on a screen at one end of the tube and which is used in television sets, computer monitors, and as an indicator in radar sets, etc.

1. An electric charge stored in a capacitor or on the surface of an insulated object.
2. The algebraic sum of all positive and negative electric charges present in a specific volume or surface element.
3. An electric charge which is in a state of equilibrium.

The property of a barrier material that facilitates or impedes the movement of electrostatic charges internally or on the surface.

1. The coalescence of cloud drops (merging of two or more water drops into a single larger drop) resulting from the electrostatic attractions between drops of opposite charges.
2. The coalescence of two cloud or rain drops brought about by polarization effects resulting from an external electric field.

A portion of radiation which results from electrostatic fields.

1. A photocopying machine designed for electrostatic printing.
2. A printing copier which employs principles of electrostatography or all of the processes involving the forming and uses of electrostatic charged patterns for recording and reproducing images.
3. A type of copier that employs the principles of photoconductivity and electrostatic attraction.
4. A copying machine in which a photosensitive material is electrically charged in the pattern of the original being copied, and the potential image is developed by applying a finely powdered carbon toner which has been oppositely charged.

Examples include Xerox and Electrofax copying processes.

A method of coupling (process of linking two or more circuits) by which charges on one surface influence those on another surface through capacitive action or the capability of a body, system, circuit, or device for storing electric charges.

1. The deflection or the displacement of an electron beam from its straight-line path of an electron beam by means of an electrostatic field which is produced by electrodes on opposite sides of a beam. 2. A technique for modifying the path of a stream of charged particles by the use of an electric field applied across from side to side or at right angles to the path of the particles.
3. The movement of an electron beam as a result of the electrostatic field produced by electrodes on either side of the beam.

It is primarily used in cathode-ray tubes for oscilloscopes and in old-fashioned television picture tubes.

The electron beam is bent toward a positive electrode and bent away from a negative electrode or it is attracted to a positive electrode and repelled by the negative electrostatic charges.

1. A technique for locating a solid body; such as, a mineral deposit, by using specialized equipment to measure the electrostatic field surrounding a body.
2. The detection, perception of, or determination and location of any type of solid body; such as, a mineral deposit or a mine, by measuring the associated electrostatic field that arises spontaneously or is induced by the detection equipment.

an instrument for determining the presence or absence, polarity, and relative magnitude of electrostatic charges.

The following methods can be used for protecting appliances and circuits against electrostatic discharges:

• Making surfaces on packages and containers for transporting vulnerable instruments conductive to prevent or to dissipate static buildup.
• Grounding conductive work surfaces.
• Requiring handlers to wear grounded, conductive wrist straps and conductive outer garments.
• Maintaining at least fifty percent relative humidity and active air ionization (static charges) in the work zone.

Susceptibility or sensitivity to the damage of a circuit or an appliance to damage or destruction by electrostatic discharges.

Equipment for simulating or imitating the discharge of static electricity from the human body or a naturally occurring discharge.

The movement of static electricity from a non-conductive surface which can damage or destroy semiconductors and other circuit components.

Static electricity can build on paper, plastic, or other non-conductors and be discharged by human skin (a finger) contact.

It can also be created by scuffing or rubbing one's shoes on a carpet or by brushing a non-conductor.

That branch of electrostatography or the processes involving the forming and use of electrostatic charged patterns for recording and reproducing images that produce a visible record by employing an insulating medium to form latent electrostatic images with the aid of electromagnetic radiation.

That branch of electrostatograplhy (process of recording and reproducing visible patterns) that produces a visible record by employing a photoresponsive medium to form latent electrostatic images with the aid of electromagnetic radiation.

1. The energy contained in electricity or in an electric charge at rest; such as, in the charge of a capacitor.
2. The potential energy that a collection of electric charges have as indicated by their positions as they relate to each other.

A distortion of the directional properties of a loop antenna caused by an input to the direction-finding receiver which is produced between the loop and the ground.

This is the opposite of that which is created between the two terminals of the loop.

1. An electric field that is associated with static (stationary, non-moving) electric charges.
2. An electric field with constant intensity; such as, that which is produced by stationary or static charges.
3. The region around an electrically charged subject which will induce an electrical charge on a second object, causing it to experience a force.

The voltage gradient or measure of the change of the physical quantity between two points at different potentials.

An apparatus with a non-contract probe or sensor for measuring the electrostatic field produced by a charged body.

It provides a measurement of the electrostatic field strength or the electrostatic voltage at a calibrated distance from a charged body.

1. In television picture tubes, a technique of directing an electron beam in a cathode-ray tube by changing the voltage applied to the focusing electrode.
2. The production of a focused electron beam in a cathode-ray tube with the application of an electric field.

1. The point at which rays of light, heat, etc., meet, diverge, or seem to diverge after being reflected from a mirror, bent by a lens, etc.
2. A method of focusing the cathode-ray beam to a fine spot by the application of electrostatic potentials to one or more elements of an electron lens system.

1. The force exerted by stationary objects that are bearing an electric charge on other stationary objects bearing an electric charge.

If the charges are of the same sign, then the force is repulsive; if they are of opposite signs, the force is attractive.

The strength of the force is described by Coulomb's law or a law that was formulated by Charles Augustin de Coulomb (1736-1806), French physicist, which describes the electric forces between charged objects.

The law states that:

• like charges repel each other and unlike charges attract each other,
• the attraction or repulsion acts along the line between the two charges,
• the size of the force varies inversely as the square of the distance between the two charges,
• the size of the force is proportional to the value of each charge.

2. A force resulting from the attraction of stationary, charged bodies, proportional to the product of their magnitudes and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.
3. A force on a charged particle resulting from an electrostatic field, equal to the electric field vector times the charge of the particle.
4. Like charges in close proximity produce forces of repulsion between them; consequently, if two surfaces bear appreciable and approximately equal densities of charged groups on their surfaces appreciable forces of repulsion may occur between them.

The range of these forces is determined primarily by the ionic strength of the intervening medium, forces being of minimal range at high ionic strength.

The forces are effective over approximately twice the double layer of their thickness.

A galvanometer or an instrument used to determine the presence, direction, and strength of an electric current in a conductor which is operated by the effects of two electric charges on each other.

A gyroscope in which an electrostatic field supports a central beryllium ball (metal with a high ratio of strength to weight or the lightest structural metal known) that is surrounded by six electrodes in a vacuum inside a ceramic envelope.

A gyroscope is a mechanical or an optical tool which is used to maintain orientation during motion.

A mechanical gyroscope consists of a rapidly spinning wheel set in a framework that permits it to tilt freely in any direction or to rotate around any axis.

An optical gyroscope, laser or fiber, measures the interference pattern generated by two light beams, traveling in opposite directions inside a mirrored ring or fiber loop, in order to detect very small changes in motion.

Gyroscopes are utilized in compasses, in automatic pilots on ships and aircraft, in the steering mechanisms of torpedoes, in antiroll equipment on large ships, and in inertial guidance systems or resistance of objects to any changes in their status of motion.

An apparatus which is held against the ear that reproduces incoming electrical signals as sound.

It relies on changes in electrical charges across a diaphragm stretched between two perforated, polarized plates.

All parts of the diaphragm experience equal forces and the sound is inherently more linear.

A radiographic technique in which the ionic charge liberated during the irradiation process is converted into a visible image.

The image may be produced by an electronic read-out device or by liquid or powdered toner.

1. The process of charging an object electrically by bringing it near another charged object, then touching it to a ground.
2. Modification in the distribution of an electric charge on one material under the influence of an electric charge on a nearby object which takes place whenever any object is placed in an electric field.
3. The production of an electric charge in an object when placed near a charged body.
4. A process of inducing stationary electric charges on an object by brining it near another object that has an excess of electric charges.

A positive charge will produce a negative charge, and a negative charge will produce a positive charge.

1. A reference to an acoustical device; such as, a loudspeaker or microphone, which derives mechanical or electrical energy from the effect of an electrostatic field.
2. A meter which depends for its operation on the forces of attraction and repulsion between electrically charged bodies.

The charged particle interactions of charged particles associated with the Coulomb forces which they exert on one another.

It includes the forces between two charged particles; such as, between electrons and protons, that according to Coulomb's law is proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them and which is either repulsive or attractive, to each other depending on the relationship of the charges.

In an electrostatic copier, the invisible image formed on the zinc oxide coated paper by the action of light.

1. A collection of plates or cylinders with electrostatic properties which cause an electron beam to refract in a manner similar to the refraction of light by an optical lens.
2. An arrangement of electrostatic fields that acts upon beams of charged particles similar to the way a glass lens acts on light beams.
3. An electrostatic field with axial (a line of symmetry of an optical system, such as the line passing through the center of a lens) or a plane symmetry which acts upon beams of charged particles of uniform velocity; such as, glass lenses act on light beams.

The action of electrostatic fields with axial symmetry is similar to that of spherical glass lenses, whereas the action of electrostatic fields with plane symmetry is like that of cylindrical glass lenses.

1. Any type of loudspeaker in which the mechanical energy is produced by the action of two electrically charged conductors; for example, a moving-coil microphone.
2. A loudspeaker in which the mechanical forces are produced by the action of electrostatic fields.

In one type, the fields are produced between a thin metal diaphragm and a rigid metal plate.

An electron tube in which information is stored with electric charges.

1. An instrument in which information is stored as electrostatic charges on a dielectric surface (insulating material or a very poor conductor of electric current, but an efficient supporter of electrostatic fields).
2. A storage in which information is kept as the presence or absence of electrostatic charges at specific spot locations, generally on the screen of a special type of cathode-ray tube known as a storage tube.
3. The storage of changeable information in the form of charged or uncharged areas usually on the screen of a cathode-ray tube.
4. A memory which stores information in the form of the presence or absence of electrostatic charges at specific locations; such as, on the screen of a special cathode-ray tube known as a storage tube or cells of dynamic random-access memories.

A meter with a movement consisting of fixed and movable metal plates, interleaved to form a capacitor.

The rotation of the movable plates is proportional to the DC or AC voltage applied across the capacitor.

1. A microphone consisting essentially of a flexible metal diaphragm and a rigid metal plate that together form a two-plate air capacitor.

Sound waves set the diaphragm in vibration, producing capacitance variations that are converted into audio-frequency signals by a suitable amplifier circuit.

2. A microphone design where a condenser (the original name for a capacitor) is created by stretching a thin diaphragm in front of a metal disc (the back plate).

By positioning the two surfaces very close together an electrical capacitor is created so the capacitance varies as a function of sound pressure.

Any change in sound pressure causes the diaphragm to move, which changes the distance between the two surfaces.

Electrostatic microphones, unlike other types, require a battery or other voltage source.

A tool for controlling beams of electrons or other charged particles, consisting of eight electrodes arranged in a circular pattern with alternating polarities.

It is commonly used to correct a condition that causes a blurring and loss of clearness in the images produced by lenses or mirrors of quadrupole lens systems.

1.A technique of spraying in which the material being sprayed is given a high electrical charge, while the test piece is grounded.
2. A procedure used in painting which uses the particle-attracting property of electrostatic charges.

The direct current of about 100,000 volts is applied to a grid of wires through which the paint is sprayed to charge each particle and the metal objects to be sprayed are connected to the opposite terminal of the high-voltage circuit, so they attract the particles of paint.

An electrical device designed for the detection of weak electromagnetic radiation, usually light, by amplifying the energy of the photons that strike it into stronger electrical signals whose electrostatic fields cause the electron stream to be reflected off each dynode in turn.

A dynode is an electrode whose primary function is the secondary emission of electrons.

The removal of dust, smoke, or other finely divided particles from the air by charging the particles with an electric field so they are attracted to oppositely charged collector electrodes and collected by those polarized electrodes.

1. An instrument which removes small foreign particles; such as, dust and pollen, from the air by electrically charging and then collecting the particles on a plate that is oppositely charged.
2. A tool which removes dust or other finely divided particles from a gas by charging the particles inductively with an electric field, then attracting them to highly charged collector plates.
3. A device that removes small foreign particles from the air; such as, ash, dust, and acid by electrically charging and then collecting the particles on a plate that is oppositely charged.

Used to filter out pollutants and to retrieve valuable materials, from utility and industrial processes, before they reach the atmosphere.

1. A process for printing or copying in which electrostatic charges are used to form the image in powder or ink directly on to the surface to be printed instead of with ink or pressure.

The best known process of electrostatic printing is known as xerography.

2. A procedure in which a positive electrostatic charge is given to a paper on which an image is projected.

A bright light reverses the charge of the non-image area so that the negatively charged powdered ink sticks firmly only to the positive image area.

Established by the Xerox Corporation, it is about the most common dry photocopying process in use today.

3. A plotter or computer output device that draws graphs and other pictorial images on paper which uses an electrostatic method of printing.

Liquid toner models use a positively charged toner that is attracted to paper which is negatively charged by passing by a line of electrodes (tiny wires or nibs).

Models print in black and white or color, and some handle paper up to six feet wide.

Newer electrostatic plotters are really large-format laser printers and focus light onto a charged drum using lasers or LEDs (light-emitting diodes) which is a semiconductor that emits light when a current passes through it.

1. A reproduction method in which image formation depends on electrical rather than chemical changes induced by light.
2. A non-chemical, non-impact imaging process in which a light source, corresponding to the image to be formed, discharges a charged dielectric photoconductive surface to form an inactive image.

This surface, a photoconductor, containing the unseen image is then dusted with dielectric toner powder which sticks to the charged areas, producing a visible image.

The propulsion of spacecraft or other vehicles by employing electric fields to accelerate charged particles in a desired direction.

A tool for focusing beams of electrons or other charged particles, consisting of four electrodes arranged in a circular pattern with alternating polarities.

The nuclear radius as determined from an analysis of nuclear binding energies; especially, of mirror nuclides or species of atoms characterized by the number of protons, number of neutrons, and energy content in the nucleus.

Recording with a procedure utilizing a signal-controlled electrostatic field.

1. A relay in which two or more conductors which are separated by insulating material move because of the mutual attraction or by repulsion that is produced by electric charges applied to the conductors.
2. A relay whose actuator element consists of non-conducting media separating two or more conductors which change their relative positions because of the mutual attraction or repulsion of electric charges applied to the conductors.

The electrostatic repulsion force of repulsion exerted by one charged particle on another charged particle of the same sign or a symbol that identifies a positive or negative number.

1. A scanning method in which an electrostatic field directs an electron beam.
2. Scanning or the process of directing a radio-frequency beam successively over all points in a given region of space which involves electrostatic deflection of an electron beam.

1. A process in which an electrostatic separator sorts out or reorders a mixture of finely pulverized materials.
2. A separation of finely pulverized materials by placing them in electrostatic separators.

1. An apparatus in which a mixture of finely pulverized materials falls through a strong electric field between charged electrodes and is sorted out to fall into different receptacles.
2. A separator in which a finely pulverized mixture falls through a powerful electric field between two electrodes.

Materials with different specific inductive capacitances (capabilities of bodies, system, circuits, or devices for storing electric charges) are deflected by varying amounts and fall into different sorting chutes.

1. A list of materials which produce an electrostatic charge when rubbed together, arranged in such an order that a material has a positive charge when rubbed with a material below it in the list, and has a negative charge when rubbed with a material above it in the list.
2. A type of contact electrification in which certain materials become electrically charged after they come into contact with a different material and are then separated by rubbing.

The polarity and strength of the charges which are produced are determined by the materials, surface roughness, temperature, and other characteristics.

1. A shield that prevents electrostatic coupling between circuits, but allows electromagnetic coupling.
2. A metallic enclosure or screen placed around an apparatus so it will not be affected by external electric fields.
3. A grounded metal screen, sheet, or enclosure placed around an apparatus or between two appliances to prevent electric fields from acting through the shield.

It can prevent interaction between the electric fields of adjacent parts on a chassis.

1. A material which decreases the interaction of electric fields.
2. The placing of a grounded metal screen, sheet, or enclosure around a device or between two devices to prevent electric fields from interacting.

A speaker in which mechanical forces are produced by the action of electrostatic fields.

An electron tube using cathode-ray beam scanning and charge storage for the introduction, storage, and removal of information.

1. An electrostatic field acting on an insulator, which produces polarization in the insulator and causes an electrical breakdown if it is raised beyond a certain intensity.
2. An electrostatic area which acts on an insulator.

The field generates polarization in the insulator and causes an electrical breakdown if it is raised beyond a speciic intensity.

A camera in which images are stored electrostatically on a plastic tape.

It is designed for use in satellites, where the stored image is not damaged by Van Allen or other cosmic radiation in the upper atmosphere.

1. A transducer consisting of a set electrode and a movable electrode, charged electrostatically in opposite polarity.

The motion of the movable electrode changes the capacitance between the electrodes and so makes the applied voltage change in proportion to the amplitude of the electrode's motion.

2. A transducer which consists of a capacitor, at least one plate of which can be set into vibration.

Its operation depends on the interaction between its electric field and a change in its electrostatic capacity.

1. A tweeter loudspeaker or a loudspeaker designed to handle only the higher audio frequencies in which a flat metal diaphragm is driven directly by a varying high voltage applied between the diaphragm and a fixed metal electrode.
2. A speaker with a movable flat metal diaphragm and a non-movable metal electrode capable of reproducing high audio frequencies.

The diaphragm is driven by the varying high voltages applied across it and the electrode.

1. Any electrical unit of measure based on the attraction or repulsion of a static charge, as distinguished from an electromagnetic unit, which is defined in terms of the attraction or repulsion of magnetic poles.
2. A unit based primarily upon the force exerted between two electric charges.
3. An electric unit based primarily on the dynamic interaction of electric charges.

It is defined as a charge which, if concentrated on a small sphere, would repel with a force of one dyne which is a similar charge of one centimeter away in a vacuum.

The quantity of electrical charge which repels an equal charge at a poiont in a vacuum at a distance of one centimeter with a force of one dyne.

1. A system of electrical units, based on the centimeter, gram, and second, in which a unit electric charge is by definition such that two units of the same sign placed one centimeter apart in vacuo (vacuum) will repel each other with a force of one dyne.

Units in the system are usually characterized by the prefix stat-, as statampere, statvolt, etc.

2. A centimeter-gram-second system of electric and magnetic units in which the unit of charge is that charge which exerts a force of one dyne on another unit charge when separated from it by a distance of one centimeter in a vacuum.

Other units are derived from this definition by assigning unit coefficients in equations relating electric and magnetic quantities.

1. A rule stating that in a stable state, valence (combining power) of negatively charged atoms equals the total strength of the bonds that they have formed with nearby positively charged ions.
2. A concept that in a stable ionic structure, the valence of each anion, with changed sign, equals the sum of the strengths of its electrostatic bonds to the adjacent cations or atoms or groups of atoms with one or more positive or negative electric charges.

1. An instrument that measures voltage according to the degree of attraction or repulsion between charged bodies.
2. A voltmeter which works by measuring the force exerted between stationary electric charges which is usually graduated in volts or kilovolts.
3. A voltmeter in which the voltage to be measured is applied between fixed and movable metal vanes.

The resulting electrostatic force deflects or turns the movable vane against the tension of a spring.

An instrument designed to measure high voltages in watts by means of electrostatic forces.

The wave motion of a plasma (an electrically conductive fluid) in which restoring forces are primarily electrostatic.

The principle of electron-beam convergence through the use of an electrostatic field.

1. A process in which an electrostatically charged printing plate is exposed so that the resulting positive image attracts a negatively charged resin.
2. The process of recording and reproducing visible patterns with the formation and utilization of inactive electrostatic charge patterns.
3. A generic term covering all processes involving the forming and use of electrostatic charged patterns for recording and reproducing images.

This field of recording and reproducing images is divided into electrophotography and electrography.