Static electricity

Have you ever taken your hat off on a dry winter day and had a "hair raising" experience? Why do these things happen?

Is it magic? No, it's not magic; it's static electricity!

Static electricity is the result of an imbalance between negative and positive charges in objects. These charges can build up on the surface of an object until they find a way to be released or discharged.


Instructions

The activities in this original content are designed to explore the following key concepts:

  • Static electricity is the result of an imbalance between negative and positive charges in objects. These charges can build up on the surface of an object until they find a way to be released or discharged.
  • All things are made up of charges. Opposite charges attract each other (negative to positive).
  • Like charges repel each other (positive to positive or negative to negative).
  • Most of the time positive and negative charges are balanced in an object, which makes that object neutral.