EXPERIMENT: STATIC ELECTRICITY OBJECTIVES

Perform an experiment of ionic bonding.



Instructions

1. Suspend two inflated balloons by threads and tie them to a piece of string at the same point.

2. Rub each balloon with a piece of material.

A. What happens to the balloons when they are close together? What does this mean about their charge?

3. Cut two 3-by-12 inch strips of material from the nylon stocking.

4. Place both strips on a piece of white paper and rub them briskly in your hand.

5. With your fingers, lift the two pieces of nylon and hold them side by side.

B. What happens and why?

C. What electrical charge is present on the nylon strips?

6. Now bring one of the nylon strips near one of the balloons.

D. What happens? Explain what this means about the electrical charge of the nylon strip.

E. How does this investigation demonstrate the concept of ions and ionic bondi