Why do I keep getting electric shocks from everything I touch? The US Sun

ELECTRIC shocks are normally avoidable unless you're an electrician but sometimes we all get random shocks from seemingly nothing.

These annoying little electric shocks can happen at any time from shutting car doors to hugging a friend, so why do we get them?

Why do I keep getting electric shocks when I touch things?

We’ve all had that slightly embarrassing zap moment when we reach out to shake someone’s hand.

Or maybe you go to open a car door and a tiny jolt of electricity shoots through your body.

Sometimes you will even hear a clicking noise or your hair will stand on its ends.

The phenomenon is known as a static electricity shock.

The science behind static electricity is simple - atoms are made up from protons, electrons and neutrons.

When an atom has a balanced number of protons and electrons there is a neutral charge.

If these are not balanced, the atoms with extra electrons will lose them to negatively charged atoms.

This fast loss of electrons is what gives you your electric shock.

Static shocks are more common when it’s cold and dry as it is harder for the charge to run into the air without moisture.

Instead it builds up on our bodies.

So, when you touch something like a metal doorknob or car door, those extra electrons will rapidly leave your body and give you the shock.

There are lots of things that can cause an electric shock and sometimes they really are just unavoidable.

However simple tricks can reduce your chance of being zapped.