Static Electricity

and Magnets

and discover.
bo rn sc ien tis ts – they love to explore
Child ren are at home with
are ma ny ac tiv itie s that you can enjoy doing
There
your little scientist.

Questions
sticking to your fridge?
• Do you have magnets
et stick to?
• What else will a magn
icity?
• What is static electr
a slippery
zap when sliding down
• Have you ever got a t an d the n
t on the carpe
dip or rubbing your fee
touching someone?

O WHAt’s HAppening?e when rubbed

Sticky balloons e activity at tic charg
tion of this Science Tim Some things build sta
See a video demonstra ex am ple , when your shoes rub
together. For
www.questacon.edu.au ur clothes rub against
against the carpet or yo
the charge moves to
You Will Need a slippery slide. When
you a zap. These
something else it gives
• Water balloons you a zap, but they
balloons shouldn’t give
ted to things and
• A balloon pump will be electrically attrac
want to stick to them.
WHAt to Do ons using
1. On a dry day inflate
lots of small water ballo DiscoveR MoRe
a balloon pump. can you stick to
ild up a static charge on
the balloons. • How many balloons
2. Now you need to bu clothes. your head?
on on your head or your
To do this, rub the ballo tic charge. mirror how the
thes build up a lot of sta • Explore in front of the
Synthetic or woollen clo of rubbing make your child’s
your balloons with lots charged balloons can
3. Once you’ve charged high can you get
hair stand on end. How
they’re ready to stick.
you or your child’s hair. your hair?
4. Stick the balloon on s will
ts the charged balloon • What else can you sti
ck the
5. Test what other objec
wall or clothing. the s or the wall?
stick to; for example, the balloon s to? Clo

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 ReAD BooKs ok
DiD You KnoW? t (sticks
Have fun finding more
at your local librar y, bo
ally charged can attrac store or online.
A balloon that is static jus t lik ea
ay) other objects us Fun with Magnets
to) or repel (pushes aw l be att rac ted • Attract! Fast and Furio
arged balloon wil
magnet. A statically ch bo th ha ve a by DK Publishing
two balloons
to hair or clothes. When by Allan Fowler
the y will repel each other. • What Magnets Can Do
similar static charge
(The Magic School Bus
• Amazing Magnetism
lastic Publishing
tRY tHese otHeR Ac tivities Chapter Book) by Scho
ce
icity (An Exploring scien
to? Try sticking a
stick • Exploring static electr
• What does a magnet book) by Nick Oddo
magnet to ob jec ts ma de of different metals,
n
guess if it will stick, the
wood, plastic etc. First gn et clo se
check and see. Note:
never pu t a ma
r r
devic e such as a TV or compute ! Here are some cursion
to an electron ic Go on an electrifying ex
because it could dama
ge it! Ca nb erra region.
suggestions in the
lloon.
w up a normal size ba slide at your local park
• Balloon vacuum: Blo llo on by rub bing • Slide down a slippery
on the ba charge “zap”.
Build up static charge w yo u ca n pick and experience a static
or hair. No
it against your clothes m be an ba g
r or foa
up small pieces of pape tes
beads with the ch arg ed balloon. The paper or
on. investigAte WeBsifor children about
ted to the charged ballo bsites
foam beads are attrac There are also many we h:
an empty, clean aluminiu
m gn ets . We suggest you start wit
• Can roll: You will need electricity and ma
balloon. Bu ild up sta tic
can and a normal size Science Time Static
rubbing against your •• Questacon Watch the
charge on the ba llo on by uestacon.edu.au
charged balloon very Electricity video at www.q
clothes or hair. Hold the Do experiments with
can (but not touching) •
close to the aluminium n. idsathome.com
lloon away from the ca magnets www.creativek
then slowly move the ba d wil l
to the ba llo on an the magnet game at
The can will be attracted • Play at Home Play
m/magnets.htm
roll towards it. www.science.pppst.co

www.questacon.edu.au