Static Attraction
Static Attractions
You need:
- Thread
- Plastic drinking straw
- Plastic pen
- A helper
1. Tie one end of a piece of thread around the middle of
a straw.
2. Ask a helper to hold the free end of the thread so that
the straw is suspended.
3. Rub the side of a pen on a rug until it feels warm (you
are building up a charge).
4. Make sure the straw is still and then bring the
charged pen close to the ends of the straw.
5. What happens?
Explanation:
You made an electroscope! Electroscopes can detect
charges like static electricity. Static electricity stays in an
object (which is why it's called "static") until it is discharged
onto another object. Rubbing your feet on a carpet builds up
static electricity and touching a doorknob (or person!)
discharges it. Rubbing your pen on a rug charges up the
pen's plastic with static electricity. Charges can be positive
or negative, and the charges on glass and plastic tend to be
negative. Opposites attract and likes repel so the ends of
the electroscope will spin toward or away from a charged
object depending on whether it has a negative or positive
charge.
You need:
- Thread
- Plastic drinking straw
- Plastic pen
- A helper
1. Tie one end of a piece of thread around the middle of
a straw.
2. Ask a helper to hold the free end of the thread so that
the straw is suspended.
3. Rub the side of a pen on a rug until it feels warm (you
are building up a charge).
4. Make sure the straw is still and then bring the
charged pen close to the ends of the straw.
5. What happens?
Explanation:
You made an electroscope! Electroscopes can detect
charges like static electricity. Static electricity stays in an
object (which is why it's called "static") until it is discharged
onto another object. Rubbing your feet on a carpet builds up
static electricity and touching a doorknob (or person!)
discharges it. Rubbing your pen on a rug charges up the
pen's plastic with static electricity. Charges can be positive
or negative, and the charges on glass and plastic tend to be
negative. Opposites attract and likes repel so the ends of
the electroscope will spin toward or away from a charged
object depending on whether it has a negative or positive
charge.
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