What is static electricity?

Static electricity refers to the buildup of electrical charge on the surface of objects, which occurs when electrons are transferred from one material to another, typically due to friction. This process results in a stationary electrical charge that can cause objects to attract or repel each other. An everyday example of static electricity can be seen when you rub a balloon on your hair; the friction causes electrons to move, leaving the balloon with a negative charge and your hair with a positive charge, resulting in the balloon's ability to stick to a wall or attract hair.

The other choices do not accurately define static electricity. A flow of electric current characterizes dynamic electricity, which involves moving charges, while voltage in circuits is a measure of the potential energy per unit charge. Lastly, solar energy generates electricity through photovoltaic cells, not through static electricity. Therefore, the understanding of static electricity is centered around its stationary nature and the role of friction in its creation.