Name:__________________________________

Static Stations: Student Lab

Sheet

You have learned some basic information about static electricity

and how it is caused. Now you get to see it in action! At each
station you will see how a statically charged balloon or comb
affects other objects.
Before you begin, a good scientist makes predictions or
hypotheses. Predict what will happen to each material when it
interacts with the balloon or comb.

Material begin
tested

Station 1:
gelatin

Station 2: puff
rice
Station 3:
another
charged
balloon
Station 4: ping
pong ball

Hypothesis: What
will happen when
static electricity
comes close to
this material?

Results: What happened when

you brought it near static
electricity?

Station 5:
Bubbles
Use what you know about charges to explain why the balloons and combs had an effect
on the objects in these exercises.

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Static Station 1

The Gelatin Test

Procedure:
1. Make sure that a small amount of gelatin (about 2
tablespoons) is spread evenly on a flat plate.
2. Charge your balloon
3. Touch the charged area of the balloon to the plate
of gelatin
4. Gently raise the balloon straight up.
5. Record your results and draw conclusions.
For Clean-up:
Be sure that the gelatin stays on the plate. If you got
any on your balloon, gently brush it onto the plate.
DO NOT leave powder all over the table or floor.

Static Station 2

The Puff Rice Test

Procedure:
1. Put a thin layer of rice cereal on a sheet of
aluminum foil
2. Put the plastic container upside down over the
cereal
3. Vigorously rub the upper surface of the container
with a cloth or balloon (the bottom of the container
since its upside down)
4. Observe the rice cereal
5. Record your results and draw conclusions

For Clean-up:
Be sure that the rice cereal is back on the aluminum
foil and that the materials are all placed inside the
plastic tub.

Static Station 3

The Other
Balloon Test
Procedure:
1. Make sure that one of your two balloons is tied to
a piece of string and hanging downward without
touching anything
2. Charge one side of the hanging balloon

3. Charge the free (stringless) balloon

4. Bring the charged surface of the free balloon close
to the charged side of the hanging balloon. Observe
the balloons.
5. Record your results and draw conclusions
For Clean-up:
Leave the area neat and the balloon hanging for the
next group.

Static Station 4

The Ping Pong Ball

Procedure:
1. Charge a small comb with fabric or by rubbing it
on the floor
2. Place a ping pong ball on a level surface such as a
table top or the floor
3. Bring the comb near the ball
4. Observe what happens to the ball
5. Record your results and draw conclusions
For Clean-up:
Place the comb and ball back into their containers
and make sure your area is clean.

Static Station 5

The Bubble Test

Procedure:
1. Carefully blow one medium sized bubble and catch
it with the bubble wand.
2. Charge a comb
3. Slowly bring the comb toward the side of the
bubble
4. Observe the bubble
5. Record your results and draw conclusions
For Clean-up:
Be sure that
residue is
from any
stray bubbles
landed on.

any bubble
removed
surface that
may have