Preface to first edition 1997 This book has developed from more that 40
years of work with static electric problems and almost as long a period
of teaching courses on electrostatics, primarily at The Technical
University of Denmark. Several chapters of the book are hardly more than
a brush-up of the general knowledge of most physicists. But with the
ever increasing specialization, in today's teaching and research, little
attention seems to be paid to simple and basic relations. For this
regrettable fact I am grateful. It is my hope that the book may take the
newcomer by the hand and also remind the specialist of some basic facts
she may have forgotten or perhaps never learned. Preface to second
edition This book differs from the first edition by several topics being
totally rewritten. This is the case as far as chapters 4, 5, 6 and 8 are
concerned. The background for the new versions is to a large extent my
contributions to the ESDA (ElectroStatic Discharge Association) symposia
and tutorials and especially my articles (Mr. Static) in Compliance
Engineering. Most of the figures have been redrawn. A major part has
been borrowed from Compliance Engineering, and the permission to do so
is gratefully acknowledged.