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Triboelectrification of houseflies (Musca domestica L.) walking on synthetic dielectric surfaces

Triboelectrification of houseflies (Musca domestica L.) walking on synthetic dielectric surfaces
Triboelectrification of houseflies (Musca domestica L.) walking on synthetic dielectric surfaces
Houseflies (Musca domestica L.) have been found to accumulate significant electrostatic charges when walking on uncharged dielectric surfaces. The number of steps taken was found to determine the amount of charge transferred whereas time, on its own, did not play a significant role. After walking only a short distance, typically 30cm, flies reached saturation charge. The level of this varied according to the position of the surface in the triboelectric series relative to the fly. The rate of charging (pC/footstep) was directly proportional to the difference between the fly's charge and its saturation charge, hence the initial rate of charging for an uncharged fly was directly proportional to the saturation charge. A model has been fitted to the relationship between distance travelled (and hence the number of steps taken) with charge. The reciprocal charge left on the surface has been visualised using photocopier toner.
Triboelectrification, Faraday pail, House fly, Insect charging, Bioelectrostatic
0304-3886
167-177
McGonigle, D.F.
9af1784b-312a-43ab-8271-2a3ccf115bc8
Jackson, C.W.
ab14e7be-1b25-4425-9e8f-6ccee5b984a8
Davidson, J
c5647772-1637-4bb5-890c-aa7b0f6d924a
McGonigle, D.F.
9af1784b-312a-43ab-8271-2a3ccf115bc8
Jackson, C.W.
ab14e7be-1b25-4425-9e8f-6ccee5b984a8
Davidson, J
c5647772-1637-4bb5-890c-aa7b0f6d924a

McGonigle, D.F., Jackson, C.W. and Davidson, J (2002) Triboelectrification of houseflies (Musca domestica L.) walking on synthetic dielectric surfaces. Journal of Electrostatics, 54 (2), 167-177. (doi:10.1016/S0304-3886(01)00177-2).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Houseflies (Musca domestica L.) have been found to accumulate significant electrostatic charges when walking on uncharged dielectric surfaces. The number of steps taken was found to determine the amount of charge transferred whereas time, on its own, did not play a significant role. After walking only a short distance, typically 30cm, flies reached saturation charge. The level of this varied according to the position of the surface in the triboelectric series relative to the fly. The rate of charging (pC/footstep) was directly proportional to the difference between the fly's charge and its saturation charge, hence the initial rate of charging for an uncharged fly was directly proportional to the saturation charge. A model has been fitted to the relationship between distance travelled (and hence the number of steps taken) with charge. The reciprocal charge left on the surface has been visualised using photocopier toner.

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More information

Submitted date: 30 March 2001
Published date: February 2002
Keywords: Triboelectrification, Faraday pail, House fly, Insect charging, Bioelectrostatic

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 26695
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/26695
ISSN: 0304-3886
PURE UUID: 6813f996-9105-4120-b134-f5828bc62751

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 10 Apr 2006
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 07:13

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Contributors

Author: D.F. McGonigle
Author: C.W. Jackson
Author: J Davidson

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