Is there a simple way to create static electricity electrically and not mechanically?

 

The method that comes to mind is the motor that moves the belt in a Van de Graaf generator.

You can get a pretty good charge on the surface of an old CRT TV set. There was even a dusting tool sold that you placed against the CRT to get a static charge and attract dust.

 

Is there a simple way to create static electricity electrically and not mechanically?

Charging a capacitor with a battery would be one way.

 

static is usually associated with charge on a insulator. so i guess its possible to put a insulator in a huge electric field, so large it rips electrons from the insulator. voila, you made static charge from a electric field. where you get such electric field i dunno, you'll need to google that one.

or, placing a cap on a power supply, letting it charge, then yank the cap off, and voila, you're left with static charge on the cap.