Static electricity is a form of electricity that does not flow: it is electricity at rest. Objects carry positive electrical charges when some of their atoms have fewer electrons than they should, and carry negative electrical charges when some atoms have more electrons than they should. A simple way to produce static electricity is to rub two objects (made of certain materials) together - this transfers electrons from one object to the other, giving each a positive or negative charge. Positively and negatively charged objects are attracted to each other like magnets, because each wants to give up or gain electrons. When static electricity becomes strong enough, so many electrons jump from one thing to another that they cause a visible electric spark, which you'll feel as a small "shock" if one of the things the electrons jump to is you. A Xerox® copier , generically called a photocopier, works essentially on the principles of static electricity. Electric charges can be positive or negative, which is somewhat similar to the poles of magnets. The negative end of a magazine...