EXPERIMENT: STATIC ELECTRICITY OBJECTIVES

Perform an experiment of ionic bonding.



These supplies are needed:

two inflated balloons

piece of material (nylon, wool, or fur)

thread

nylon stocking

string

piece of white paper

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?