Static Electricity- Balloons (Katie Flanagan)

Author

Katie Flanagan

Principle(s) Illustrated

Energy is a property of many substances and is associated with electricity. Energy is transferred in many ways (Standard B.3.1)

Prior knowledge & experience:

Students should already know what atoms are and the parts of an atom

Root question:

Holding a balloon up the wall, what happens if you let go? Now, after rubbing the balloon against wool, what happens to the balloon when you let go?

Target response:

The first balloon should fall, the second balloon should stick to the wall

Common Misconceptions:

Common misconception is that balloons are not sticky, therefore they shouldn't be able to stick to a wall.

Blow up a balloon and hold it up to a wall. The balloon should fall to the ground when you let go.
Rub that same balloon against wool, or your hair, or a student's hair.
Take that balloon and again hold it up to the wall. It should now stick to the wall where you held it.
You could also hold the balloon up to a slow stream of water from a faucet. Do not let the balloon touch the water, but get it pretty close. The water will start to bend away from the balloon.