Static Electricity

Static Electricity
Rubbing the surface of a material with another material can make it have an electric charge.
If you rub two balloons with a piece of woollen cloth, they will repel each other.



You can tear some tissue paper into small pieces.



Now rub a glass rod with a piece of silk. Now bring the rod near to the tissue paper and notice what happens.



Rubbing the glass rod with the silk makes it lose electrons, so it becomes positively charged. The silk gains electrons and becomes negatively charged. The neutral tissue paper is attracted by the rod.

Static Electricity
You can do some simple experiments with static electricity. They work best on cold, dry days.
Rub a plastic comb hard with a woollen cloth.


Bring the comb near to some small pieces of paper and find out what happens.



Rub a sheet of paper hard with a brush. Bring a corner of it near to a table tennis ball. Notice what happens.



Place a sheet of paper against a smooth painted wall. Hold it in place and rub it firmly with a brush. What happens when you take your hand away?


Comb your hair with a plastic comb. Bring it near to some small pieces of paper. What happens?



Rub a balloon hard on the front of your sweater. Now put it near a smooth, painted wall. What happens?

Lightning
Lightning is an example of static electricity in nature.



Clouds can become heavily charged with electricity. Lightning, which is a heavily charged electrical spark then passes between the clouds and the earth.

Lightning Safety
Although lightning is common, few people are hurt by it.

Lightning follows simple paths to the ground. To stay safe, keep away from tall trees in a thunderstorm, and do not stand in fields or on the top of a hill.



Lightning conductors are used on tall buildings where they allow electricity to discharge harmlessly, leaving the building undamaged.
Rub a balloon hard again, but this time bring it near to someone's hair (preferably long and without gel). What happens?