Lesson 6 of 7 · Electricity
Experiment⭐ 30 XP⚡ Spark LabStatic Electricity
Electricity.
🎯 Your mission
Predict it first. Then prove yourself right (or wrong).
⚡ 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
Rubbing two insulators transfers electrons, leaving one negative and the other positive. Like charges repel and unlike attract. A charged object attracts neutral ones by induction, which is how a rubbed balloon sticks to a wall.
Key Words
Tap a word to see its definition.
Materials Needed
- balloons
- woollen cloth
- tap
Safety First
- Do not do this near a gas appliance or flammable vapour.
- Keep balloon fragments away from small children.
Steps
Read the explanation above and note the two key terms before you start.
Rub a balloon on wool and test it against a wall, a thin stream of tap water, and a second charged balloon. Record attract or repel for each and explain the water result using induction rather than net charge.
Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.
Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 2Rubbing a balloon on hair transfers:
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.
Ready?
Static Electricity
Predict it first. Then prove yourself right (or wrong).
Full screen — no distractions
Checkout complete lesson on Electricity for 9th Grade
Get the full Electricity track as a printable PDF — all lessons, worksheets, and answer keys.