Static Electricity with Balloons

Balloons are charged by rubbing them on hair, causing them to attract or repel each other.

1. Blow up two balloons and tie them.
2. Hang one balloon from the ceiling with a piece of yarn so it is free to swing.
3. Rub the hanging balloon on your hair to charge it.
4. Rub the second balloon on your hair to give it the same charge.
5. Bring the second balloon close to the hanging one without touching. Observe how they repel each other.
6. Discharge the balloons by touching them together or touching them with your hand.
7. Rub only one balloon on your hair and bring it close to the neutral one. Observe that this time they attract.

Repelling Balloons - Science Mom:

📄Pushing Balloons - Frugal fun for boys and girls: https://frugalfun4boys.com/static-electricity-science-experiments/

• Try rubbing the balloon on different materials (wool, cotton, synthetic fabric) to compare static charge effects.
• Charge one balloon while leaving the other neutral to compare attraction vs. repulsion.
• Put a charged balloon onto an electroscope to show it's charge.

• Supervise young children to avoid choking hazards with broken balloon pieces.

• Why do the two balloons repel each other when charged the same way?
• Why do a charged balloon and a neutral balloon attract each other?
• How does the electroscope show that invisible charges are present?
• Why do static electricity experiments work better on dry days than humid days?
• Can you think of real-world examples of static electricity (e.g., clothes from a dryer, lightning)?