Lesson 12 of 84 · Motion and Forces
Lesson⭐ 30 XP⚡ Spark LabStatic Electricity
Motion and Forces.
🎯 Your mission
Master the concept. Use it tomorrow.
⚡ The twist
Energy never disappears — it just hides somewhere else.
Mind = Blown
⚡ 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
You use this every time you flip a light switch, ride a bike, or kick a ball.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
Time how long a small ball rolls down something, then change the slope and try again.
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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