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shoestringsci

Static Electricity Ghost

Updated: Oct 17, 2020


Let's use some household items to make a spooky dancing ghost!


Materials needed:

  • Balloons

  • Tape

  • Scissors

  • Tissue paper (you can also try computer paper, newspaper, toilet paper, and other kinds of paper!)


Preparation:

  • Cut ghost shapes about 1.5 to 2 inches long from the different kinds of paper you want to test

  • Tape just the very edge of the ghosts' tails to the table, so they don't fly away!

  • Blow up a balloon


Outline:

Rub the balloon across your head for 10-20 seconds really quickly.

Then, slowly move the balloon over your ghosts one at a time, until they start to dance!


Reflect on what you've done and extend this activity:

Why does this happen? When you rub the balloon in your hair, the surface of the balloon gets covered with negatively-charged electrons. These electrons can pull very light, positively-charged things towards them, creating our dancing ghost. Spooky!


You can download a printer-friendly version of this post below!


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