Experiment

Static Electricity Exercises

It is very difficult to visualize the submicroscopic particles that make up the atom. Atoms and the particles that make up atoms are much too small to be detected by ordinary microscopes.  However, even though we cannot an atom we can see the effects from the interaction of the minuscule electrons in different atoms. These exercises with static electricity highlight the electrons in some atoms.


I. Balloon Interactions

a.) Blow up two balloons and tie them up.
b.) Place them next to each other on a table or solid surface.
c.) Observe what happens.
d.) Rub one of the balloons with the piece of fur in your electrostatic kit.
e.) Place it next to the balloon that was not rubbed and observe what happens.
f.) Do the balloons repel or cling.
g.) Try to explain your observations using the triboelectric


II. Salt and Pepper
a.) Sprinkle a little bit of salt and pepper onto a piece of wax paper or notepaper.
b.) Rub the glass rod with the piece of silk from your electrostatic kit.
c.) Hold the glass rod over the salt and pepper but do not touch them.
d.) Observe what happens.
e.) Try to separate the pepper from the salt with the glass rod.
f.) Try to separate the pepper from the salt with a plastic spoon.
g.) Can you explain what is happening in terms of electrical charges?