Lesson 12 of 84 · Forces and Motion
Lesson⭐ 30 XP⚡ Spark LabStatic Electricity
Forces and Motion.
🎯 Your mission
Learn the rule. Then catch nature using it.
⚡ The twist
The opposite of what you expect is often what happens.
Mind = Blown
🎢 You feel weightless on a roller coaster because you and the seat are falling at the same speed.
Make a hypothesis first
Predict: what happens if you double the force?
What You'll Learn
Static electricity builds up when objects gain or lose electrons through rubbing. Rubbing a balloon on your hair transfers electrons, making the balloon stick to a wall.
Key Words
- kinetic
- potential
- work
Steps
Look at the vocabulary words and write a definition for each in your own words.
Construct a catapult from popsicle sticks and rubber bands. Launch a marshmallow from different angles and measure the distance. Find the angle that gives the longest launch.
Draw a detailed diagram of what you observe.
Write a conclusion: what did your results show? Did they match your prediction?
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 3What happens when you rub a balloon on your hair?
Where you see this in real life
This is why airplanes can fly and why rockets reach space.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
This week, find one thing in your house that turns one kind of energy into another.
For the dinner table
“Show me something at home that uses this kind of energy.”
Next Smart Experiment
We'll pick an experiment that matches exactly how you're thinking right now.
Share this experiment
Send it to a parent who's looking for a 10-minute kitchen science win.
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