What is static charge?

This lab exercise uses ordinary household materials to explore static charge.

A lesson plan for grades 9–12 Science

By Leigh Kiser

Learn more

• The Discovery of the Electron An online exhibit on J.J. Thompson's experiments and theories of the electron
• The Static Electricity Page A page about static electricity with ideas for experiments and devices you can build

Related pages

• The five senses—hearing: We hear through movement of the ear drum which is tightly stretched across the ear canal and vibrates when air waves push it.
• Convection currents: Students work together to show convection currents in the air. They construct a paper propeller that will be caused to spin as a result of the transfer of heat energy through the air.
• Let's make it simple (pre-visit): This lesson focuses on the student's ability to recognize objects in nature that could become tools to make work easier (simple machines). It is the first in a series of three lessons, the others being Lesson 2: Make it simple: Now find it (museum visit) and Lesson 3: Simple: Now compound (post-visit).

Related topics

• Learn more about physics and physical science and science.

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Learning outcomes

• To work cooperatively and effectively towards a common goal.
• To demonstrate the ability to observe and analyze information obtained.
• To find out how objects obtain an electric charge.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

30 minutes

Materials/resources

• Part 1: ruler, hole punch, tissue paper
• Part 2: balloon, cloth (wool, rabbit fur, cotton)
• Part 3: plastic wrap, cotton cloth, hole punch, aluminum foil

Activities

Part 1: Obtain a plastic ruler. Tear some tissue into tiny pieces and scatter them on your desktop. Rub the plastic ruler briskly across your hair several times and slowly lower it near the paper.

Part 2: Charge a balloon by rubbing it with a cloth. Then bring the balloon near your sleeve.

Part 3: Obtain a piece of plastic food wrap, about thirty-by-thirty-centimeters. Lay it on a tabletop and smooth it down flat with a cotton cloth. Use a hole punch to make round chips of aluminum foil. Put the foil chips in a pile in the center of the plastic wrap. Lift the plastic wrap slowly from the desk and observe the response of the aluminum.

Assessment

Part 1: Observe what happens. Touch the ruler with your other hand lower it to paper again. What happens now?

Part 2: What happens to the balloon when you rub it? What causes the balloon to stick to your shirt?

Part 3: Observe how the aluminum chips react to the plastic. How do they react to each other? Would paper chips respond the same way?

How would you summarize the behavior of electrically charged objects?

Also, when they finish the lab, come back as a big group to compare outcomes. Let each group respond to each question.

Supplemental information

Thompson, Marilyn, Charles W. McLaughlin, and Richard G. Smith. MERRILL PHYSICAL SCIENCE. New York, NY: Glencoe McGraw-Hill, 1995.

Comments

This is a good way to kick off the static electricty unit. It is alot of fun, and they find out they do not know everything about static charge.