Electrostatics is the branch of physics that studies electric charges at rest. It focuses on the forces and interactions between charged objects, which can be positive or negative. When two objects with opposite charges come close, they attract each other, while like charges repel. This behavior is described by Coulomb's Law, which quantifies the force between charged objects based on their charges and distance apart. In everyday life, electrostatics can be observed in phenomena like static electricity, where friction causes an imbalance of charges. For example, rubbing a balloon on your hair transfers electrons, giving the balloon a negative charge, allowing it to stick to walls or attract small pieces of paper.