Let's Play with Static Electricity
Plastic Bag Float
What you will need:
a plastic rod
a piece of cloth
a light plastic bag
Steps:
Rub the surface of the rod with the cloth for 40 seconds.
Flatten the plastic bag and rub the cloth against its surface for 40 seconds.
Release the plastic bag and watch it levitate as you wave the rod below.
How it works:
The rod and cloth become negatively charged after you rub them with a cloth. As like charges repel, the plastic bag appears to repel.
Roll a Can with STATIC ELECTRICITY
With static electricity, you can even make a can roll around without actually touching it!
What you will need:
an empty can
a plastic rod
a piece of cloth
Steps:
Rub the surface of the rod with the cloth for 40 seconds.
Place the can on a flat and smooth surface.
Hold the cloth close to the can without touching it and watch as it follows the movement of the rod!
How it works:
Rubbing the rod with the cloth creates static electricity. The rod, which has gained electrons, becomes negatively charges. Hence the can, which is positively charged, is attracted to it as opposites attract.
Hair Standing With Static Electricity
Have you ever gotten frizzy, fly-away hair during a plane ride? Well, you can now create the same effect with a balloon!
What you will need:
an inflated balloon
a piece of cloth
Steps:
Rub the surface of the balloon with the cloth for 40 seconds.
Hold the balloon a short distance above your head and watch your hair stick to it!
How it works:
The balloon gains electrons from the cloth and becomes negatively charged, so it attracts your hair, which is positively charged in comparison.
Separating Salt and Pepper
If salt and pepper chips don’t suit your fancy, why not run a static electricity experiment to separate those seasonings!
What you will need:
a plastic spoon
salt
pepper
a piece of cloth
Steps:
Mix a teaspoon each of salt and pepper thoroughly.
Rub the spoon with the cloth for 40 seconds.
Hold the spoon over the mixture. The pepper will jump up and stick to the spoon. If you hold the spoon over the right spots.
How it works:
Both the salt and pepper granules are positively charged. The spoon, which has gained electrons from the cloth, attracts positive charges in the mixture. But the pepper, which is lighter, will jump up more easily and stick to the spoon.
Water bending With The Power Of Static Electricity
What you will need:
a plastic rod
a piece of cloth
running water
Steps:
Rub the surface of the rod with the cloth for 40 seconds.
Turn the tap on so there is a steady stream of water.
Put the rod near the water and watch it ‘bend.’
How it works:
When the negatively charged rod approaches the water, it repels the electrons in the water. This gives the water nearest to the rod a positive charge. The attraction between this positive charge and the negatively charged comb asserts a net force on the water. This allows you to ‘bend ’water.
Hovering Plates
Magnets aren’t the only things that repel each other.
What you will need:
A piece of cloth
2 Styrofoam plates
Steps:1
Rub the base of a plate with the cloth
Place the plate on a flat surface
Try to place the other plate (base-down) on the other plate and watch as they repel.
How it works:
This trick works due to static electricity, which happens when you rub things together. The plate gains electrons from the cloth and becomes negatively charged. These electrons repel the electrons in the other plate.