Balloon and Hair Experiment
Materials Needed:
- A balloon
- Your own hair or a piece of wool fabric
- A small piece of paper or tissue paper
Steps:
Inflate the Balloon: Blow up the balloon and tie the end securely.
Create Static Electricity: Rub the balloon vigorously against your hair or a piece of wool fabric for about 30 seconds. This action transfers electrons to the balloon, giving it a negative charge.
Observe the Effects: Hold the balloon near small pieces of paper or tissue paper. You'll notice that the paper pieces are attracted to the balloon and will stick to it.
- Additional Fun: Try holding the balloon near your hair again. Your hair will be attracted to the balloon and might even stand on end.
Explanation
When you rub the balloon against your hair or wool, electrons are transferred from your hair to the balloon, making the balloon negatively charged. Objects with opposite charges attract each other, so the positively charged small pieces of paper are attracted to the negatively charged balloon.
