Have you ever gone down the slide at a playground and noticed your hair standing on end? Or walked across a carpeted room, then touched a doorknob and --ZAP!-- you get a little shock?
The cause: static electricity.
Static electricity is the result of an imbalance between negative and positive charges in an object.
Everything around us is made up of charged particles, protons and electrons. Opposite charges are attracted to one another. Most of the time, the positive and negative charges are balanced.
But an imbalance of negative charges can build up on the surface of an object until they find a way to be released or discharged. That’s when static electricity happens.
The rubbing of certain materials against one another can transfer negatively charged electrons. For example, when you rub along that slide at the playground, or you rub your shoes while walking on the carpet, your body collects extra electrons. The electrons cling to your body until they can be released, usually with a static shock.
At the MagLab, scientists use high magnetic fields to study the movement of electrons in new materials. This fundamental research lays the groundwork for development of smaller, faster and more powerful electronic technology.
What You’ll Need:
What you'll do:
1. Use the marker to draw a ghost on the tissue paper. Groovy or spooky or cute, create your own custom specter. Check out our ideas if you need some inspiration.
2. With your scissors, cut out your ghost.
3. Tape the bottom edge of the ghost to a table, the floor, or another flat spot.
4. Blow up the ballon and tie it shut.
5. Rub the balloon rapidly on your head or on a carpet to build up static charge.
6. Hold the balloon at the top of your ghost. Slowly pull the balloon away and watch your ghost rise with the static charge!
Did you know?
Lightning is powerful static electricity built up by tiny water droplets inside storm clouds, discharged to the ground or to other clouds.
