Static Electricity Box: Difference between revisions
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The static electricity box is a small box covered | The static electricity box is a small box covered in plastic and contains aluminum foil balls. This quirky box displays some surprising and fun properties of static electricity up close that students can play with. | ||
== Materials == | == Materials == | ||
* Static electricity box | * Static electricity box: | ||
* Aluminum foil | ** Aluminum foil | ||
* 1 cm diameter Styrofoam balls wrapped with aluminum foil | ** 1 cm diameter Styrofoam balls, wrapped with aluminum foil | ||
* Small | ** Small clear plastic dome with base (Such as a cookie platter tray) | ||
* | ** Small cardboard boxes, cardboard strips, or similar | ||
* Piece of paper towel | * Piece of paper towel or cloth | ||
== Safety Precautions == | == Safety Precautions == | ||
| Line 27: | Line 27: | ||
== Demonstration == | == Demonstration == | ||
Preparation: | ;Preparation: Assemble the Static Electricity Box | ||
# Rinse out the plastic platter tray and dry. Stack the small cardboard boxes, strips, or similar until they nearly touch the lid of the tray when inside. Tape them together. | |||
# Line the top cardboard box (or cover the top of the stack) with an aluminum foil sheet. Cut two additional sheets to then fold and stack on top, pressing them in and leaving the edge elevated. | |||
# Place the Aluminum-wrapped styrofoam balls inside the aluminum lined box. Close the lid on top, ensuring it is a snug but sturdy fit. | |||
;Presentation: | |||
'''''In the Works''''' <!-- | |||
Using this set up, you can perform 2 different actions: | Using this set up, you can perform 2 different actions: | ||
# Place the Styrofoam balls wrapped with aluminum foil inside the box, then place the blast shield on top of the box | # Place the Styrofoam balls wrapped with aluminum foil inside the box, then place the blast shield on top of the box | ||
| Line 34: | Line 39: | ||
#* The shorter of the 2 boxes works better with this. If using the shorter box, you can also make the Styrofoam balls jump around by rubbing the tip of your finger on the outside of the blast shield. | #* The shorter of the 2 boxes works better with this. If using the shorter box, you can also make the Styrofoam balls jump around by rubbing the tip of your finger on the outside of the blast shield. | ||
# Place the Styrofoam balls wrapped with aluminum foil on top of the blast shield, which is resting on top of the box | # Place the Styrofoam balls wrapped with aluminum foil on top of the blast shield, which is resting on top of the box | ||
#* If this is done, prior to placing the Styrofoam balls on the surface of the blast shield, rub the top of the blast shield with a paper towel. Once the Styrofoam balls are placed on top of the blast shield, an instructor or student can bring their finger tip in very close proximity to a Styrofoam ball (or just barely touching it) and the ball should roll around the top of the blast shield. | #* If this is done, prior to placing the Styrofoam balls on the surface of the blast shield, rub the top of the blast shield with a paper towel. Once the Styrofoam balls are placed on top of the blast shield, an instructor or student can bring their finger tip in very close proximity to a Styrofoam ball (or just barely touching it) and the ball should roll around the top of the blast shield. /--> | ||
== Why This Works == | == Why This Works == | ||
===Short Explanation=== | |||
In static electricity, charges (+ and -) are separated from one another. Due to the properties of the materials these charges are separated onto, some of these charges are not able to disperse, and are "stuck in place" (i.e. if the surface is a nonconductor). One property of charges is that opposite charges attract each other and like charges repel each other. In the case of this demonstration, rubbing cloth on the plastic (made out of polycarbonate, a nonconductor) makes parts of the blast shield - charged. The aluminum foil-wrapped Styrofoam balls are attracted to the charged surface, and will jump to it! | |||
When the balls are on the blast shield, students can see that they move if they try to poke them. This is because, when they touch the plastic, they remove the - charge on the surface. The balls will then fall back down, or they will slide around the blast shield trying to find another spot that is charged. | |||
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===Full Explanation=== | |||
/--> | |||
== Tips and Tricks == | == Tips and Tricks == | ||
*Try to make the blast shield as flat across the top of the box as possible | *Try to make the blast shield as flat across the top of the box as possible | ||
*This demonstration goes well with Van de Graaff generator and other static electricity demonstrations | *This demonstration goes well with Van de Graaff generator and other static electricity demonstrations | ||
Revision as of 21:51, 17 January 2018
| Physics: | Electricity |
| Grade Range: | Middle School, High School |
| Format: | Hands-on |
The static electricity box is a small box covered in plastic and contains aluminum foil balls. This quirky box displays some surprising and fun properties of static electricity up close that students can play with.
Materials
- Static electricity box:
- Aluminum foil
- 1 cm diameter Styrofoam balls, wrapped with aluminum foil
- Small clear plastic dome with base (Such as a cookie platter tray)
- Small cardboard boxes, cardboard strips, or similar
- Piece of paper towel or cloth
Safety Precautions
- Please see the Demonstration Safety Page for General Safety Precautions
Demonstration
- Preparation
- Assemble the Static Electricity Box
- Rinse out the plastic platter tray and dry. Stack the small cardboard boxes, strips, or similar until they nearly touch the lid of the tray when inside. Tape them together.
- Line the top cardboard box (or cover the top of the stack) with an aluminum foil sheet. Cut two additional sheets to then fold and stack on top, pressing them in and leaving the edge elevated.
- Place the Aluminum-wrapped styrofoam balls inside the aluminum lined box. Close the lid on top, ensuring it is a snug but sturdy fit.
- Presentation
In the Works
Why This Works
Short Explanation
In static electricity, charges (+ and -) are separated from one another. Due to the properties of the materials these charges are separated onto, some of these charges are not able to disperse, and are "stuck in place" (i.e. if the surface is a nonconductor). One property of charges is that opposite charges attract each other and like charges repel each other. In the case of this demonstration, rubbing cloth on the plastic (made out of polycarbonate, a nonconductor) makes parts of the blast shield - charged. The aluminum foil-wrapped Styrofoam balls are attracted to the charged surface, and will jump to it!
When the balls are on the blast shield, students can see that they move if they try to poke them. This is because, when they touch the plastic, they remove the - charge on the surface. The balls will then fall back down, or they will slide around the blast shield trying to find another spot that is charged.
Tips and Tricks
- Try to make the blast shield as flat across the top of the box as possible
- This demonstration goes well with Van de Graaff generator and other static electricity demonstrations