When you open a computer case, there is the danger of damaging the internal components of the computer just with the touch of your hand. Static electricity can build up on your body and release onto the first metal option that you touch.

 Computer chips and media storage can be damaged when exposed to static electricity as low as 10 volts.  Humans are not able to sense a static charge until it has reached at least 1,500 volts.  Therefore, it is possible to damage the internal components of a computer without the charge even being felt by the person working on the computer.  For example, just walking across a rug can produce a static charge of 12,000 volts, this voltage is not life threatening to humans, but to a computer this is 1,200 times the amount of volts that can damage a computer chip.

As more circuitry is added inside of a computer (such as by computer upgrades and/or improvements to an existing system), it becomes more susceptible to static electricity damage.

LINK TO VIDEO USED IN CLASS: http://www.arborsci.com/CoolStuff/cool18.htm
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