Static Electricity Experiments

Conduct four electrifying electricity experiments that challenge young scientists to explore positive and negative charges and magnetic fields without the shock.

Young electrical engineers use balloons, cereal, and PVC pipe to test how positive or negative charged particles can attract or repel each other. First they attract Rice Krispies with a static-charged balloon, and then they use two...

Begin with the classic static electricity demonstrations: the behavior of charged balloons and metal leaves of an electroscope. Then move on to test the electrical conductivity of various materials. Give physics pupils a charge with...

Can static electricity affect the direction that water flows? Watch this short clip and attempt this experiment with your young learners! For older learners, pair with additional activities that illustrate positive and negative charges.

Why is static electricity worse in the winter? Learn about static charges and the Van de Graaff generator before conducting a quick experiment using bubbles and a Van de Graaff. If you don't have access to one, simply play this video...

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...

Student explore the relationship of static electricity to current electricity, circuits, electromagnets, electro generators, and public electric utilities. In this Green Team lesson plan, 4th graders participate in hands-on science...

Fifth graders describe the behavior of static electricity as observed in nature and everyday occurrences.

Students investigate static electricity using inexpensive "grocery store" items. They view demonstrations with video segments. They graph the data they collect.

Students experiment to investigate static electricity.  In this static electricity lesson, students prepare a balloon head and draw a face on it.  Students rub the nose and the balloon moves toward the student rubbing.