Balloon Static Electricity STEM Activity

Overview

When the lightning leaps to the ground, we get a sudden, very vivid demonstration of static electricity. The static electricity can be either powerful or weak. This experiment Balloon Static Electricity will give you another demonstration and it is weak enough that we can even play with it. 

Age: 3+        Time: <10mins

 Safety 

Adult supervision.

 Materials List 

• Balloon
• Tissue paper
• Marker
• Inflator
• A pair of scissors

 Instruction 

Step 1/3 -Cut whatever shape you like out of a piece of tissue paper. I cut off a ghost.

Step 2/3 -Inflate the balloon, tie it, and rub the balloon against your clothes.

Step 3/3 -Bring the balloon close to the tissue paper lying flat. You will find the tissue paper want to stick to the balloon.   

 Troubleshooting 

Why my ghost can not stick to the balloon?

- Increase the rubbing time and bring the balloon to ghost right after you finishing rub. The effect of this experiment will be obvious in winter. 

 Scientific Description 

When you rub the balloon against your clothes, the tiny parts of the atoms in your clothes, called ELECTRONS, collected on the balloon. These electrons have a NEGATIVE charge. Now, the balloon has a negative charge, it is attracted to things that have a POSITIVE charge or things without charge (neutral). When you take the negatively charged balloon, the tissue paper with a positive charge is attracted to the balloon. In winter days, when you take off your sweater there will be some sudden shining light. That is also caused by static electricity.

 Extensions 

1. Try to demonstrate the static electricity by using a homemade electroscope. 

2. The balloon can also attract so many little stuff, like running water, toothpick, and so on.

3. This experiment is specially made for Halloween. We also made lots of science experiments to celebrate Halloween.