Static Electricity

This term, Year 10 Separate Scientists have been learning about static electricity. They have also learnt about the dangers of static electricity and the need for anti-static floors in hospitals. They know that when two insulating materials are rubbed together, the friction causes the electrons to be transferred. The electrons move from one material to the other and then each object becomes charged. The object that loses the electrons becomes positive and the object that gains electrons become negatively charged.

They then carried out many small experiments to answer the following questions. Maybe you could ask them to discuss the answers with you at home?

How does the balloon stick to the wall?
Why does your hair stand on end when you go down a plastic slide?
Why does your hair stand on end when you hold the dome on the Van Der Graaff?
How can you bend water or pick up paper with a plastic rod?

Mrs Honeyman, Associate Assistant Headteacher and Curriculum Leader for Science