|  | 4.1 | Basics of Electricity
| 4.1.3 | Static electricity

Loosened electrons that stay in one place, without moving and with a negative charge, are called static electricity. If these static electrons have an opportunity to jump to a conductor, this can lead to electrostatic discharge (ESD). Electrostatic discharge, though usually harmless to people, can create serious problems for sensitive electronic equipment, unless dealt with properly.

If you should walk across a carpet, in a cool and dry room, a spark could jump from your fingertips to the next object that you touch. This would cause you to feel a small electric shock. You know from experience that an electrostatic discharge can be uncomfortable, but is quite harmless. However, when a computer experiences an ESD, the result can be disastrous. A static discharge can randomly damage computer chips and/or data.

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| "Static Electricity" means "High Voltage"