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Charge it Up!

Here's an experiment to make electric charges, or static electricity. You will need a piece of paper, two balloons and a long piece of cotton thread.

  1. Tear the paper into small pieces and sprinkle them over your carpet (please make sure to tidy up after your experiment!).
  2. Rub a balloon on the carpet or against some woollen clothing. This will charge up the balloon with static electricity.
  3. Now, bring the balloon close to the paper. What do you see happening?
  4. Try sticking a charged-up balloon to a wall or a window, or bringing it near someone’s hair. What other things can you attract with the charged-up balloon?
  5. Now, take the piece of cotton thread and tie each end to a balloon. Grab the middle of the thread so the balloons point to the ground.
  6. Charge both balloons by rubbing them on the carpet or against some woollen clothing. What happens?