Name:______________________
Hour:______________________
STATIC ELECTRICITY ACTIVITY
1.
All matter is made of atoms. Atoms are made of three subatomic particles. What are they?
2. Two of the subatomic particles have an electric charge. What are they? List them and write
their electric charge.
3. What part of an atom is allowed to move?
4. What do you know about charges?
a. Opposites ___________________
b. Like charges _________________
5. When charges are placed near each other they are affected by a _____________ of attraction or
repulsion. This _____________ can cause charges to move toward or away from each other.
6. Let’s draw some charged objects.
Neutral:
Negative:
Positive:
In small groups answer the next 4 questions using what we just learned.
7. What do you think will happen if you touched a negatively charges object to a positively charged
object? Draw a picture of what you think might happen:
8. What do you think would happen if you touched a positively charged object to a negatively
charged object? Draw a picture of what you think might happen:
This is known as _____________________. It happens when charged objects touch.
9. What do you think would happen if you held a negatively charged object near a neutral object?
Draw a picture of you think might happen:
10. What do you think would happen if you held a positively charged object near a neutral object?
Draw a picture of what you think might happen:
This is known as _______________________. It happens when charged objects are close to each
other.
Name:______________________
Hour:______________________
Electricity is the energy associated with electrons (or charges) that can move from one place to
another.
1. Obtain a balloon. Do not pop your balloon or you group will receive a zero for the lab.
2. What is your charge on your head right now? Draw your head below showing the charge of
your head.
3. What is the balloons charge before the lab? Show this in a picture.
4. Rub your balloon on your head.
a. Draw a picture that shows your charge now.
b. Draw a picture that shows that balloons charge now.
5. Bring the balloon near the wall. Draw a picture of the wall and balloon near it showing what has
happened to their charge.
6. Describe what happened to the balloon when it neared the wall and touched it. (hint, the
balloon is rubber which is not a conductor. The charge will not quickly leave the balloon and go
to the wall.)
7. Try to get other objects to stick together like large and small bits of paper. Why or why not do
these objects stick to the wall?
8. What type of electricity is this? Define it using your textbook (page 194).