Static Electricity

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Static Electricity

• Try these demonstrations in the lab.Dont forget
  your hair dryer to improve the results!

M.D.
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Plasma Ball

• Why does the glass turn pink when the charge
  strikes it?
• What happens if you place your hand on it? Why?

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• Try two people touching it.

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• Predict what will happen if you bring the
  fluorescent bulb towards the plasma ball.

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• Why does this happen?
• What if you hold the bulb in the middle?

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• Why does this happen?
• Try holding it in different positions.

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• Take a neon bulb and hold it towards the plasma
  ball. What happens and why?

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• How far away from it can you hold it and get it
  to light up?

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Van de Graaff Generator

• Place the hair/place your hands on top of the Van
  de Graaff and charge it up.
• What will happen to the hair?

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• Why does this happen to the hair?
• What happens if you earth it? Why?

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• Place some tin foil bun cases sitting on top of
  each other on the Van de Graaff.
• Predict what will happen when you charge it.

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• Why does this happen?

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• Hold tissue paper close to the dome while it is
  charged and let go.
• What will happen?

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• Why is it attracted to the dome but then jumps
  off? Try this with bubbles!

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• Try getting the rice krispies to dance or the
  energy bulb to light up too!

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Static Balloons

• Rub the balloon on your hair/jumper and hold
  close to the running water.
• What will happen?

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Static Balloons

• Why does this happen?

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• Hang two balloons by thread from your ceiling.
• Charge them both using your hair/jumper.
• What will happen?

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• Why does this happen?
• What will happen if you place a piece of paper
  between them?

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• Why does this happen?

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• Check out www.teachersdomain.org and register for
  free. Search make an electroscope for this fun
  demo!
• Charge the polystyrene foam and place the
  electroscope on top. What happens to the tin foil
  ball? Why?
• What if you bring your finger towards the ball?
  Why?

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• Check out http//www.absorblearning.com/media/sea
  rch.actionsearch for animations on spray
  painting cars and using static to pick up paper.