Learning how to create static electricity can be a good experiment to get into physics. You can create static electricity in a few different ways, depending on which one you prefer. To make static electricity weak, you can rub a sock on the carpet or rub a fleece material into a plastic bag or balloon. Meanwhile, if you want to create stronger static electricity, try making your own electroscope from objects you have at home.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Creating Static Electricity with Socks and Carpet
Step 1. Put on clean, dry socks
The cleaner the socks, the better they conduct electricity. Wet or soiled socks can't rub against the floor strongly enough so they're less likely to generate static electricity.
- Warm socks that have just been machine dried are the best conductors of electricity.
- While most socks can conduct static electricity, wool socks are usually the best.
Step 2. Gently rub your feet on the surface of the carpet
Walk briskly while rubbing your feet on the carpet. However, don't drag your feet or walk by putting too much pressure on the carpet. This will cause the electricity to be released too early so that the triggering energy is no longer left.
Nylon rugs are generally best for conducting electricity. However, most carpets can generate static electricity
Step 3. Touch other people or metal objects
After rubbing the sock on the carpet, stretch out your hand and touch a person or metal object near you. If you can feel electric shocks or shocks flowing from your body to other objects or people, you have successfully created static electricity.
- If you don't feel any static electricity, continue rubbing the sock on the carpet and try again.
- Ask someone else's permission before you touch it. Remember, not everyone likes to feel static electricity.
Step 4. Do not touch electronics
Electronic objects have microchips that can malfunction or even be permanently damaged by static electricity. So, before touching electronics, take off your socks and touch something else to release any residual static electricity.
Even if they have a protective coating, electronics may still be susceptible to static electricity
Method 2 of 3: Rubbing Balloons with Wool
Step 1. Blow up the balloon and tie the ends
Pull the neck of the balloon and place the hole on the lips. Take a deep breath and then exhale into the balloon until it is full. After that, tie the end of the balloon in a knot so that the air inside doesn't escape.
In this experiment, you have to use a rubber balloon. Metallic balloons do not conduct static electricity when rubbed with wool
Step 2. Rub the balloon with wool for 5-10 minutes
Hold the balloon with one hand and the wool with the other. Press the wool against the surface of the balloon and rub the two together vigorously for 5-10 seconds.
If you don't have any wool at home, you can rub the balloon with your head
Step 3. Hold the balloon near the horizontal soda can
To test for static electricity, place the soda can horizontally on a smooth, flat surface. After that, place the balloon near the can, but don't let the two touch. If the soda can rolls away from the balloon, the balloon is conducting electricity.
You can also test electrical conduction by placing a balloon near your hair. If your hair shaft lifts up and hits the balloon, you have successfully generated static electricity
Step 4. Discharge the static electricity on the balloon by rubbing it against a metal object
Metal is a strong conductor and can dissipate an electric charge on the balloon. Just like you would with wool, just rub the metal against the surface of the balloon for about 5-10 seconds.
Method 3 of 3: Making the Electroscope
Step 1. Make 2 holes in the bottom of the Styrofoam glass and insert a straw through it
Stick a pencil or meat skewer through 2 points at the bottom of the Styrofoam glass. Leave an equal distance between the holes and the rim of the glass. Insert a plastic straw through each hole so that half of it hangs outside the hole.
Be careful when using sharp objects such as meat skewers
Step 2. Place 4 small clay balls in the mouth of the glass, then place them on the baking sheet
Make 4 small clay balls of the same size, about 1.5 cm by hand, then stick them at 4 equidistant points in the mouth of the glass. After that, turn the glass over and place it in the center of the aluminum pan.
After placing the glass in the pan, the straw should point straight up
Step 3. Cut a piece of string and tie it to a 2.5 cm piece of aluminum foil
Cut a piece of aluminum foil with a side length of 2.5 cm. After that, cut a piece of string 2-3 times the distance between the straw and the edge of the pan. After that, wind the foil on one end of the thread.
Step 4. Glue the other end of the thread to the straw
Tie the threads to both ends of the straws sticking out of the glass and then glue the ends of the threads so they don't move. After that, adjust the position of the straw so that the foil hangs down and slightly touches the edge of the pan.
If the thread is too long and doesn't hang in the air, reduce the size as needed
Step 5. Test the electroscope by placing it next to an electrically charged balloon
Make an electrically charged balloon by rubbing it against your hair or a piece of feather material and then placing it on a table. Place the electroscope next to the balloon. If the balloon could conduct electricity, the foil should be moving away from it.
