You touch a car on a dry winter day and jump as a spark arcs between your hand and the metal. You get to work and discover that a sock is stuck to the back of your sweater. You look in the mirror and discover that your hair is sticking out so that you look like one of Dr. Frankenstein's less successful experiments. All of these are symptoms of static electricity.

Static electricity is actually similar to the electricity from Jackson EMC, in that it's basically a movement of electrons. It might better be called "natural" or "untamed" electricity. In fact, the words electron and electricity come from the static electricity formed when amber is rubbed with a cloth. They're based on the Greek word for amber, elektron.

Where does static electricity come from? All matter is made of atoms, and atoms are made of a nucleus of neutrons and protons, surrounded by a shell of orbiting electrons. Protons have a positive charge, while electrons have a negative charge. Usually atoms have the same number of protons and electrons, and therefore have a neutral charge.

Some atoms hold onto their electrons tightly — and can even take electrons from other atoms, which give up electrons easily. Materials that give up electrons fairly easily include dry human hands, fur, glass and hair. Metals, plastics and amber are some of the substances that capture electrons. When materials come into contact, substances like metal and plastic may capture some electrons from fur or your hands. When the materials are separated, one side is left with a negative charge and one with a positive charge.

Opposites attract — and things with the same charge repel each other. A charged object will stick to something with a neutral charge — like the charged sock sticking to your neutral sweater. On the other hand, your hair may have acquired the same charge and is sticking out as it busily tries to get away from itself. Atoms actually "prefer" to have a neutral charge and, to accomplish this, extra electrons will make a run for any nearby material that will accept them — and form a spark in the process.

Static electricity is so much worse in the winter because the air is drier — both because cold air holds less humidity and heating removes moisture. The moisture in humid air coats surfaces, helping to keep a noticeable charge from building up. The reason that the socks from your dryer end up sticking to your clothes is that the dryer is a nearly perfect environment for creating static electricity. It's a low moisture environment in which materials keep being put together and pulled apart, building up a charge.

The most effective way to reduce static electricity in your home in the winter is to increase the humidity to 40 to 50 percent with a humidifier. A low-tech solution is to put open containers of water around the house. Hair conditioner coats the hair surface, reducing the Frankenstein effect, and fabric softener does the same for clothes. Slightly dampening your hair or clothes will reduce the static charge. Antistatic sprays such as Static Guard help keep a static charge from accumulating on fabric. You will also produce less static electricity if you wear shoes with leather soles and avoid carpet made of man-made materials.

While the electrostatic discharge — the sparks — usually will only make you jump, it is a form of electricity, and can damage sensitive electronic components and be dangerous around flammable vapors. Static discharge can harm computer components, so if you are doing work inside your computer, such as adding a DVD drive, get a wrist-strap grounding device, usually sold wherever computers are sold, and use it according to the directions.

Many gas stations warn you to put containers on the ground before filling them. This grounds the container, reducing the chance of a spark. The warning to keep the pump nozzle in contact with the container or the fill tube is also designed to reduce the chance of a spark.

If you want to avoid having an electrifying winter, try increasing your home's humidity, plus some of the other tips discussed.