“You walk across the rug, reach for the doorknob and……….ZAP!!! You get a static shock.
Or, you come inside from the cold, pull off your hat and……static hair!! The static electricity makes your hair stand straight out from your head.
What is going on here? And why is static more of a problem in the winter?
To understand static electricity, we have to learn a little bit about the nature of matter. Or in other words, what is all the stuff around us made of?”
http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/static.html
Today, our friends in Mr. John’s Science Activity learned about Static Electricity. Using a balloon, a rug, some PVC pipe, and a few other unique tools, they were able to experiment with what it is and how it works. The expressions on their faces; the sounds of joy, fascination, and disbelief; along with the exclamations when they heard the ions pop and felt the charge neutralize were proof that hands-on science is the way to get them involved in learning about the world around them.
For some other simple activities to try at home, check out: http://kidsactivitiesblog.com/26688/static-electricity
Haverty Hollow 