Have you ever been shocked when you walked across a rug or touched a light switch? Wait until a cool, dry day to learn about static electricity.

What To Do

1. Tie a string to each blown up balloon.
2. Rub a balloon on your hair for about 15 seconds. Be sure to rub around the whole balloon. What happens to your hair? What happens when you bring the balloon back close to your hair?
3. Rub the balloon on your hair again, and have a friend(or teacher)do the same with the other balloon.
4. Each of you hold the string to one balloon. Let the balloons hang freely without touching anything.
5. Slowly move the two balloons toward each other, but don't let them touch. What do you see?Do the balloons push away from each other, or do they pull toward each other?
6. Place your hand between the two hanging balloons. What happens?
7. Place a sock over one hand, and rub a balloon with it. Then let the balloon hang freely. Bring your sock-covered hand near the balloon. What happens?
8. Try rubbing both balloons with the sock, and then let them hang near each other. What happens now?
9. Look for the other examples of static electricity around your home. Have you ever felt a shock when you touched a metal doorknob on a cold winter day? What often happens when you remove the clothes from the dryer?

All things are made of millions of tiny particles (atoms) that have electric charges both positive(+) and negative (-). Usually the charges are about the same, but sometimes when two things rub together, some of the negative charges (electrons) grab onto the other surface. This causes static electricity. Things with all the same type of charge (+ or -)move away from each other (like the balloons). Things with mostly the opposite type of charge move toward each other (like the balloon and your hair).

Adapted from Helping Your Child Learn Science by Nancy Paulu with Margery Martin, U.S. Department of Education.

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