What process is referred to when friction causes electrons to be transferred from one material to another?

The process described, where friction causes electrons to be transferred from one material to another, is known as triboelectricity. This phenomenon occurs when two different materials come into contact and are then separated, resulting in a transfer of charge due to the varying affinities of the materials for electrons.

Triboelectricity is commonly observed in everyday situations, such as when rubbing a balloon on hair, which transfers electrons from the hair to the balloon, giving it a charge. This principle is crucial in understanding static electricity and certain electrical phenomena in various applications.

Other concepts like electromagnetism involve the interaction between electric currents and magnetic fields, induction pertains to the generation of electric current through a changing magnetic field, and conduction describes the flow of electric charge through a conductor. These processes, while related to electricity, do not specifically involve the transfer of electrons due to friction, which is the essence of triboelectricity.