What is static electricity?

Static electricity refers to the accumulation of electric charge on the surface of objects, which occurs when materials come into contact and then separate, leading to an imbalance of electric charges. This typically happens through processes like friction, where one material gains electrons and the other loses them, resulting in one object becoming positively charged while the other becomes negatively charged.

This phenomenon is crucial for understanding fire investigation, as static electricity can lead to sparks and potential ignition sources in flammable environments. The other choices describe different aspects of electricity: generating heat through resistance relates to current flow in devices (not static), while the flow of electric current in a circuit and the potential difference across a conductor pertain to dynamic electricity rather than the static state characterized in the correct answer.