# What is the unit of charge \[ref: column about static electricity?\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [April 1, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-unit-of-charge-ref-column-about-static-electricity/617485 "2012-04-01T15:55:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-unit-of-charge-ref-column-about-static-electricity/617485/1 "2012-04-01T15:55:50Z")
Cecil, in [Can static electricity kill you?](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/3044/can-static-electricity-kill-you) says > [@](#): > > Static charge can be measured in millijoules (mJ). and > [@](#): > > one study found the resulting charge frequently exceeded 10,000 volts but, if I remember my schooldays correctly, the unit of electrical charge is the _ **Coulomb** _ with _ **Volts** _ and _ **Joules** _ being the units for _ **potential difference** _ and _ **energy** _ respectively. Which is it? ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-unit-of-charge-ref-column-about-static-electricity/617485/2 "2012-04-01T16:12:58Z")
> [@](#): > > Static charge can be measured in millijoules (mJ). (the energy in a) Static charge can be measured in millijoules (mJ). > [@](#): > > one study found the resulting charge frequently exceeded 10,000 volts one study found the resulting charge (potential) frequently exceeded 10,000 volts i think it is language use to make it fit a newspaper column. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-unit-of-charge-ref-column-about-static-electricity/617485/3 "2012-04-01T16:39:47Z")
Cecil considered the use of the word “charge” knowing it is normally measured by Coulombs. Editorial concerns made the wording as it is to be more graspable by the readers. Being a scientist I personally don’t favor the wording as it is, but that’s between Cecil and his editor. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2012, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-unit-of-charge-ref-column-about-static-electricity/617485/4 "2012-04-01T19:05:35Z")
Moderator note: I’ve slightly amended the thread title. There are other threads on this column, but they’re focused on different aspects, so I’m leaving this separate. ---
**Author:** ![kevlaw](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kevlaw/32/2281_2.png) [@kevlaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kevlaw)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-unit-of-charge-ref-column-about-static-electricity/617485/5 "2012-04-03T15:33:29Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > Cecil considered the use of the word “charge” knowing it is normally measured by Coulombs. Editorial concerns made the wording as it is to be more graspable by the readers. Being a scientist I personally don’t favor the wording as it is, but that’s between Cecil and his editor. Fair enough. Make me a tiny bit sad though. ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2012, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-unit-of-charge-ref-column-about-static-electricity/617485/6 "2012-04-03T16:02:26Z")
> [@](#): > > After some moments the Colorado division inquired whether it would be possible to substitute different bodily fluids. I can’t help but think that’d be far worse. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-unit-of-charge-ref-column-about-static-electricity/617485/7 "2012-04-03T16:30:59Z")
> [@gamerunknown](#): > > I can’t help but think that’d be far worse. i can’t help but think that is the other column that is in current (ha i almost punned too) discussion. ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2012, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-unit-of-charge-ref-column-about-static-electricity/617485/8 "2012-04-03T16:34:25Z")
> [@](#): > > i can’t help but think that is the other column that is in current (ha i almost punned too) discussion. Good call, sorry…