Lesson 12 of 84 ยท Energy
Simulationโญ 30 XPโก Spark LabStatic Electricity
Static Electricity.
๐ฏ Your mission
Run the sim. Spot the pattern.
โก The twist
Energy never disappears โ it just hides somewhere else.
Mind = Blown
โก Static electricity is the same physics as lightning, just smaller.
Make a hypothesis first
Before you start: which will move faster, and why?
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
- Newton
- energy
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
โShow me something at home that uses this kind of energy.โ
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.
Checkout complete lesson on Energy for 8th Grade
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