The effects of static electricity

ByHeritage Official
Here are 2 videos demo made by the Y11DL Combined Science students showing the effects of static electricity. In the videos, the Polythene rod and balloon are charged by friction with a woollen cloth and hair respectively.
They are then brought close to interact with a stream of water and small pieces of paper. The water and paper are attracted to the charged objects because an opposite charge was induced in them by close proximity.
This activity demonstrated 2 learning objectives: 1) that we can charge objects by friction. 2) A charged object is able to attract objects because it induces an opposite charge when in close proximity.
With a woollen cloth, interacting with water
With natural fibres i.e. hair, interacting with pieces of paper