Electrostatics - The Swiffer
by Olivia Naccarato
How Does It Work?
Uncharged Swiffer Cloth
Neutral charge on the polyester cloth.
Friction against wood floor occurs
The electrons on the wood move into the polyester cloth because of the fact that polyester has a stronger hold on electrons.
Negative Cloth & Induced Charge Separation
The negative cloth causes induced charge separation to occur in the dust particles. This means that the electrons in each particle move as far away from the negatively charged cloth as they can. The result of that is that half of the particle has a negative charge, and the other half (closest to the cloth) has a positive charge.
Closer View On Dust Particles (Induced Charge Seperation)
Protons are pink. Electrons are purple. Electrons move farther away from the negative Swiffer cloth, leaving half of the particle positive and half negative
Attraction Between the Dust and Cloth
Since the half of the particle closest to the cloth is positive, the charge attracts to the negative cloth and makes the dust move onto and cling to the negative Swiffer cloth.
Facts
•These electrostatic cloths (Swiffer cloths) are especially good for cleaning electronic appliances like televisions and computers so that you can thoroughly clean the electronic without getting any moisture into electrical parts.
Footnotes
• Meyer, Russ. The Secret Life of Swiffers. 2012. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.
http://www.meyersix.org/the_secret_life_of_swiffers.htm
• Ellis-Christensen, Tricia. “What Is Electrostatic Cloth?” WiseGEEK, n.d. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-electrostatic-cloth.htm
• Mulverhill, Giselle. “Product reviews: Swiffer dusters.” Helium, n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2013.
http://www.helium.com/items/2025751-swiffer-duster-dust-cloth-cloths
• Trent. “Electrostatic Forces: The Secret to Swiffers’ Swiftness.” Trent’s Physics, 12 Jan. 2013. Web. 14 Feb. 2013.
http://trdye.wordpress.com/2013/01/21/electrostatic-forces-and-the-secret-to-swiffers-swiftness/
• Blake, Leesa, Michael Mazza, Alex Mills, Frank Mustoe, Jim Ross, Thomas Stiff. "Chapter 10 Static Charges And Energy" On Science 9. 2009. Print