Materials
- Balloon
- Wool sweater or towel
- Small paper pieces (e.g., confetti or tissue paper)
- Wall or ceiling (optional)
Procedure
- Inflate the balloon and tie it shut.
- Rub the balloon vigorously with a wool sweater or towel for 10–20 seconds.
- Hold the balloon near the paper pieces and observe how they jump toward it.
- Try sticking the balloon to a wall after rubbing—does it stay?
- Experiment with different materials to see which produces the strongest static effect.
Choose Your Learning Level
Elementary
When you rub the balloon, it picks up a charge that can pull on paper or stick to a wall—like magic!
Discussion Questions
- What happens when you rub the balloon?
- Why do the paper pieces jump?
- What else can you make move using your balloon?
Middle School
Rubbing the balloon transfers electrons, giving it a negative charge. This charge attracts neutral or positively charged objects nearby.
Discussion Questions
- What particles move during static electricity?
- Why does rubbing create a charge?
- How does the type of material affect the charge?
High School
This demonstration shows triboelectric charging. Electrons transfer from one material to another, creating a net charge imbalance. Electrostatic forces cause attraction between charged and neutral objects due to induced polarization.
Discussion Questions
- Describe the triboelectric effect in this experiment.
- How do electric fields explain what you observe?
- What factors influence the strength and duration of static charge?