Static Electricity and Magnets

Activity sheet

Children are born scientists - they love to explore and discover. There are many activities that you can enjoy doing at home with your little scientist.

Questions

· Do you have magnets sticking to your fridge?

· What else will a magnet stick to?

· What is static electricity?

· Have you ever got a zap when sliding down a slippery dip or rubbing your feet on the carpet and then touching someone?

Try This At Home

Sticky balloons

See a video demonstration of this Science Time activity at www.questacon.edu.au

You Will Need

· Water balloons

· A balloon pump

What to Do

1. On a dry day inflate lots of small water balloons using a balloon pump.

2. Now you need to build up a static charge on the balloons. To do this, rub the balloon on your head or your clothes. Synthetic or woollen clothes build up a lot of static charge.

3. Once you’ve charged your balloons with lots of rubbing they’re ready to stick.

4. Stick the balloon on you or your child’s hair.

5. Test what other objects the charged balloons will stick to; for example, the wall or clothing.

What’s happening?

Some things build static charge when rubbed together. For example, when your shoes rub against the carpet or your clothes rub against a slippery slide. When the charge moves to something else it gives you a zap. These balloons shouldn’t give you a zap, but they will be electrically attracted to things and want to stick to them.

Discover More

· How many balloons can you stick to your head?

· Explore in front of the mirror how the charged balloons can make your child’s hair stand on end. How high can you get your hair?

· What else can you stick the balloons to? Clothes or the wall?

Did You Know?

A balloon that is statically charged can attract (sticks to) or repel (pushes away) other objects just like a magnet. A statically charged balloon will be attracted to hair or clothes. When two balloons both have a similar static charge they will repel each other.

Try These Other Activities

· What does a magnet stick to? Try sticking a magnet to objects made of different metals, wood, plastic etc. First guess if it will stick, then check and see. Note: never put a magnet close to an electronic device such as a TV or computer because it could damage it!

· Balloon vacuum: Blow up a normal size balloon. Build up static charge on the balloon by rubbing it against your clothes or hair. Now you can pick up small pieces of paper or foam bean bag beads with the charged balloon. The paper or foam beads are attracted to the charged balloon.

· Can roll: You will need an empty, clean aluminium can and a normal size balloon. Build up static charge on the balloon by rubbing against your clothes or hair. Hold the charged balloon very close to the aluminium can (but not touching) then slowly move the balloon away from the can. The can will be attracted to the balloon and will roll towards it.

Read Books

Have fun finding more at your local library, book store or online.

· Attract! Fast and Furious Fun with Magnets by DK Publishing

· What Magnets Can Do by Allan Fowler

· Amazing Magnetism (The Magic School Bus Chapter Book) by Scholastic Publishing Exploring static electricity (An Exploring science book) by Nick Oddo

Go on an Excursion

Go on an electrifying excursion! Here are some suggestions in the Canberra region.

· Slide down a slippery slide at your local park and experience a static charge “zap”.

Investigate Websites

There are also many websites for children about electricity and magnets. We suggest you start with:

· Questacon Watch the Science Time Static Electricity video at www.questacon.edu.au

· Creative Kids at Home Do experiments with magnets www.creativekidsathome.com

· Play at Home Play the magnet game at www.science.pppst.com/magnets.htm

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