Why Are Some People Shock When Touched?

Medical Video: How to Stop Getting Zapped By Static

Have you ever felt like you were electrocuted when coming into contact with someone else? Relax, you are not alone. Many people report sensations such as electrocution when touching other people's skin or clothing. What you really feel is the impact of static electricity. However, certain people do feel more often shocked when touched. Why is that, huh? Immediately find out the answer below.

How can someone shocked when touched?

Without your realizing it, the human body is one of the natural electric fields. In the body, electricity functions to regulate various functions of organs, ranging from the brain to the heart. Electricity in your body comes from atoms consisting of three main elements, namely protons, electrons, and neutrons. Protons contain positive charges, electrons contain negative charges, and neutrons contain neutral charges.

In ideal conditions, an atom contains a balanced amount of positive and negative charge. However, if the atoms in your skin are excess electrons, you will deliver a negative charge. And vice versa if you overload protons.

You may still remember science lessons at school, that negative charges always move towards positive charges. The meeting and transfer of these two charges causes a static reaction such as an electric shock.

So, if your skin atom has excess electrons and you come into contact with someone with an excess proton, your negative charge will react with the positive charge of another person. This is what makes you feel that person shocked when touched.

Factors that make someone feel shocked

After understanding how a person's skin can deliver static electricity, you might wonder why certain people feel more often shocked when touched. Apparently, there are several factors that can make an atom in someone's body do not balance the levels of protons and electrons. Consider the factors below.

Walk while dragging your feet. When you walk while dragging your feet, the friction between your feet and floor can move many electrons in your feet. Meanwhile, protons from your body move to the floor or ground. As a result, the atoms in the body become unbalanced due to the majority of negative charges from electrons.
Wear shoes with rubber soles. Shoe soles made of rubber tend to be easier to conduct static electricity. To avoid static electricity, try choosing shoes with soles made of leather.
Clothing made of wool, polyester (synthetic fiber), or silk. Be careful if you are wearing a jacket or shirt made of wool, synthetic fiber, or silk. These textile materials are susceptible to causing an unbalanced number of protons and electrons.
Dry skin. You who have dry skin may often experience a sensation shocked when touched by someone else. This is because dry skin can release electrons easily. Your skin also becomes excessively positive and will react when it comes in contact with people who are excessively negative.
Sit on a plastic chair. The long time sitting on a plastic chair can also make you vulnerable to releasing static electricity. Friction between your clothes and the plastic surface can make atoms in the body excess protons. To avoid this reaction if you have to sit long in a plastic chair, choose clothes from cotton because the load is neutral.
Cold and dry air. Being in an open, cold place or an air-conditioned room will make the atom lose the balance of the number of protons and electrons. Meanwhile, warm or humid air can bind excess charge so that the atoms around you remain balanced.