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Static Electricity Matchcard

The Static Electricity MatchCard compares static and current electricity, and guides students' exploration of negative charges.

science-matchcard

What is Static Electricity?

Objective: Compare static and current electricity.

A static charge is a negative charge that stays on the surface of an item. It occurs because electrons attached to the surface of the object. The negatively charged object then attracts other objects.

This MatchCard compares static and current electricity. You may want to review the Electrical Circuit MatchCard (MatchCard #9) in order to compare static and current electricity.

Get a Charge

First we want to charge the surface of an object. Here are some common objects used for these demonstrations:

inflated balloon (latex)
plastic comb
glass rod

How do we charge these objects? You will need to rub the object against an object that is usually already charged. Here are common objects:

long human hair
wool sweater
many carpets and rugs (some synthetic materials do not work as well)
silk cloth

Let's Experiment

Here are some fun ways to demonstrate static electricity:

Have a charged balloon stick to a wall. Count how long it sticks. How hard do you have to blow to move it?
Turn on the tap water so a small but steady stream of water is coming from the faucet. Move the charged object (like the comb or rod) to the stream. The electrical charge causes the water to bend towards the object.
Scatter small pieces of tissue paper on a table. Run the balloon, comb, or rod over it. The papers will jump up to stick to the object.
Hold the object several inches above someone's hair. The hair stands straight up.
Tie a 12 inch piece of thread or toothfloss to an O shaped piece of breakfast cereal. Move the object towards it. the cereal will be attracted. Continue moving it towards and away from the cereal. Once the cereal becomes charged, it will move away from the object because like charges repel.
Mix 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper into a little pile. Ask the student how they might separate them. Slowly, move the balloon or rod over the pile. The lightweight pepper will be attracted to the charged object.
Blow bubbles in the air using a bubble solution or dish soap. Use the charged comb or rod to attract the bubble. Have a contest to see who can keep the bubble floating the longest as it follows the comb.

Let's Compare

These experiments all used charges that were static. Explain that static (or stasis) means it stays the same. The charge on the surface of the balloon stayed there indefinitely.

In comparison, current electricity is moving. Students who have completed MatchCard Light & Energy 8 will recognize that current electricity occurs when electrons move in a current from one molecule to another through a conductor. Most students are familiar with the electrical energy produced by batteries and electrical outlets.

Consider: Why is it safe for students to do experiments with static electricity but not current electricity? (There is a lot more electrical current involved with current electricity which could cause death.)

The Hunt

Have the students identify static electricity when they encounter it in every day situations. Encourage them to use the correct scientific terms.

Using the Static Electricity Matchcard

This is the tenth Matchcard of the Light and Energy Unit Study. You can download the Stataic Electricity Matchcard here.

The student matches the characteristics of translucent, transparent, and obaque objects with the illustration of each.

The second page is the Instructor's Guide with the correct answers.

The third page has the Information Pieces. Student's cut them apart and place them in the correct place on their copy of the Matchcard (first page.)

For more information on how to use the Matchcards, see the MatchCard Science Instructor's Guide.

MatchCard Science

The activities and illustration above are from MatchCard Science, a homeschool science unit study. For the complete Light and Energy Unit Study follow this link. This unit study provides:

hands-on demonstrations
MatchCard reviews to master the material
suggestions for science projects to complete
instructions on a complete unit study curriculum

Currently this curriculum is under-going revision. We are providing free access to the unit study, with the desire that you will provide feedback as you are field testing the materials.

Science Notebook

If you are just using this single project, and are not in need of a full unit study, you might want your student to complete a science notebook entry for this project.

Return from the Static Electricity Matchcard to the MatchCard Science Main Page.