Final answer:
The statement is true; static electricity refers to the buildup of charge that remains stationary or 'static' on an object. Objects don't normally show static electricity because they have equal numbers of positive and negative charges, causing them to balance out and be electrically neutral.the correct answer is true
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that in static electricity, charges build up on an object but they do not flow continuously is true. Static electricity occurs when there is an imbalance of electric charges within or on the surface of a material where the charge is 'static' or at rest. Charges do not flow as they would in an electric current.
Most objects do not exhibit static electricity because they contain nearly equal numbers of positive and negative charges which balance each other out. When there is a balance, the object is said to be electrically neutral and, therefore, does not exhibit a net static charge. The reason objects tend to contain nearly equal numbers of both charges is due to the law of charge conservation, which indicates that the total amount of charge in an isolated system does not change.
One can observe static electricity by rubbing certain materials together, which can remove or transfer charges and result in a net positive or negative charge on an object. The rubbed objects can exhibit static cling or attract other neutral objects due to induced polarization. However, without continuous movement, such as that driven by a potential difference in a circuit, the static charge remains stationary.