Testing ... 1, 2, 3

Static electricity is electric energy that remains in one place. Static means standing still. Static electricity stays in one place.

The static electricity stayed on the balloon, the comb, and on you when you rubbed your shoes on the carpet. It usually stays in one place unless it has a chance to jump. It stayed with you until you touched your friend. When you touched your friend, did you see a spark? That was the energy moving to your friend.

Do it!

Time to check and see what materials you can get the spark from static electricity to go to!

Materials:

• Balloon
• Piece of wool
• String
• Materials to test
  • Another balloon
  • Small piece of aluminum foil
  • Peanut
  • Small piece of styrofoam
  • More??? what do you think you want to try

Procedure:

1. Blow up the first balloon and attach it to the piece of string.
2. Rub the balloon with the piece of wool.
3. Hold the balloon by the string.
4. Tie an object that you want to test to another piece of string.
5. Slowly bring the balloon close to your test object by moving the string it is attached to.
6. Observe what happens when the balloon gets close to your test object.
7. Continue experimenting with other test objects.

Analysis:

1. Did the balloon go closer to your test object?
2. What kind of materials showed the spark jumping (between the object and the balloon?)
3. Can you predict other materials which will allow a spark to jump the gap?