Exploratorium
Holding Charge
Slide paper over a plastic straws to generate static electricity, and then stick that straw to glass, a wall, or even your own hands! This is a science activity that students can use to show parents what they learn in school whenever...
Museum of Science
Static Cling
Cling to a lesson on static electricity. Pupils take part in experiments where they see how paper from hole punchers, packing peanuts, puffed rice cereal, and other items react when placed near a rubbed balloon. They learn how electrons...
American Chemical Society
Great Electron Ripoff
Create a charge in the classroom. Using pieces of cellophane tape, a plastic grocery bag, and a balloon, learners investigate the effects of static electricity. Pupils create different charges in the materials and observe whether they...
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Balloons and Static Electricity
An interactive simulation with balloons and a sweater that teaches about static electricity, electric charges, and electric force. This simulation can either be downloaded or played online and includes handouts, lesson plans, and...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: How Do Different Materials React to Static Electricity?
Polyester clothing was generally accepted as a popular trend in fashion at one point in history. Now everybody wears cotton, which doesn't get static cling nearly as much. Why are some materials more susceptible to static cling than...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Rubbing Up Against Static Electricity
A tried and true balloon activity is to rub a balloon on your head to make your hair stand up. Learn how the rubbing builds up static electricity using this experiment to see if the number of rubs makes a difference.
Science Bob Pflugfelder
Science Bob: Bend Water With Static Electricity!
Contains a procedure for illustrating electrostatic attraction between opposite charges by causing a thin stream of water to bend. The site gives a brief discussion of static electricity, as well.
Miami University
The Atoms Family: Static Electricity
This site contains a simple experiment that you can do at home that explains static electricity.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Physics/electricity & Magnetism
Exploratorium Science Snacks are miniature science exhibits and experiments that can be made with common, inexpensive, easily available materials. These electricity snacks represent a set of devices that you can build and experiment with...
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Electrical Fleas
Create your own "flea" circus in this activity by using the effects of static electricity. Students will observe a charged object attraction to the opposite charge causing the object to jump.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Static Cling
This hands-on activity explores the concept of static electricity. Students attract an O-shaped piece of cereal to a charged comb and watch the cereal jump away when it touches the comb. Students also observe Styrofoam pellets pulling...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Charge It!
Students use a balloon to perform several simple experiments to explore static electricity and charge polarization.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Dirtmeister's Science Lab: Hair Raising Science
A great experiment to show students how electrons move by static electricity. This site includes web links, a challenge question, and notes for the teacher.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Super Sparker
This is an activity using common household materials that will demonstrate a static electricity discharge.
Concord Consortium
Concord Consortium: Molecular Workbench Showcase: Physics, Electromagnetism
Students can use these simulations to understand concepts in electromagnetism. Simulations are available on the following concepts: Lorentz Force, The Hall Effect, capacitor, conductor, transistor, cyclotron, static electricity....
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Remote Control Roller
Students can make a empty soda can roll with an electrically charged balloon.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Charge and Carry
This site from The Exploratorium Museum is a full description of a short activity. An electrophorus plate and a Leyden jar are made. The electrophorus is charged by induction. Its charge is transferred to the Leyden jar by conduction...
University of Kentucky
Elecroscope Lab
This site is actually a lab from the University of Kentucky Electrical Engineering Department. It is an excellent experiment that can be done at the high school level.
Other
Science Hobbyist: Sticky Electrostatics
A series of activities focusing on charge interactions, charging methods, and the conservation of charge. Activities utilize scotch tape and other readily available items. Includes explanations of what is happening.
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: 3 M Young Scientist Lab: Balloon Electroscope
Use balloons to make an electroscope and witness the effect of static charges before your very eyes.
University of California
University of California Berkeley: Charging an Electroscope by Induction
From the U.C. Berkeley Physics Lecture Demonstrations website. A thorough description of an activity in which a charged metal plate is used to charge an electroscope by induction. Complete directions and a diagram of the equipment and...