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...
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.
Science Bob Pflugfelder
Science Bob: Roll a Can With Static Electricity
Science Bob presents instructions for a science demonstration on how to roll a can with static electricity using common supplies with information on how it works.
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...
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: 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.
Science is Fun
Science Is Fun: Bending Water
An experiment where static electricity is used to 'bend' a stream of water flowing from a faucet. Includes a detailed explanation of how this works.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Charge It!
Students use a balloon to perform several simple experiments to explore static electricity and charge polarization.
Museum of Science
Museum of Science and Industry: Online Science: Cling to Me
A set of four station activities involving static electricity that can easily be done in the classroom.
Colorado State University
Little Shop of Physics: The Amazing Physics of Everyday Objects
Try out these experiments you can do with items you might already have around the house: "Two Ball Bounce," "Cartesian Diver," "Straw Flute," "Bernoulli Ball," and others. Two experiments, "Imploding Pop Can" and "Balloon in a Bottle,"...
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.
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...