Which statement correctly defines static electricity?

• A. Flow of current through a circuit.
• B. A magnetic force without motion.
• C. Nonmoving electrical charge usually caused by friction.
• D. The energy stored in a capacitor.

Answer: (C)

Static electricity is the buildup of electric charge on an object at rest. The statement captures this idea by describing a nonmoving electrical charge and noting it’s usually caused by friction, which is a common way charges transfer when surfaces rub together. This contrasts with electric current, where charges are actively flowing through a circuit. The other options describe related concepts that don’t define static electricity: a flow of current is dynamic charge movement; a magnetic force without motion relates to magnetism, not stationary electrical charge; and the energy stored in a capacitor refers to energy in an electric field, not the standing charge on surfaces.