Have you ever wondered what static electricity is? Read the passage to find out what it is and how to make it. Then answer the questions that follow.

What is Static Electricity?

Have you ever wondered why a balloon will stick to the wall after you rub it on your hair? When you've walked across a rug and reached for a door knob, have you wondered why you got a little shock? No, it is not a mysterious force that has suddenly come alive! It is static electricity. That means that electrical charges have built up on one object and seem to be "jumping" from that object to another!

To understand how static electricity works, we need to know that everything is made up of microscopic particles that have electrical charges. Static electricity is created when the electric charges - electrons - build up on an object. One way static electricity is created is by rubbing one object against another object. When you rub a balloon against your head, electrical charges from your hair get moved to the balloon. Your hair becomes positively charged, because it lost some electrons. The balloon becomes negatively changed, because it got more electrons from your hair.

If you hold the balloon near your head, your hair will stand on end. Your hair and the balloon are attracted to each other because they have opposite charges - positive and negative. Opposite charges attract objects and make them seem to stick to each other the same way a magnet attracts some objects

We see static electricity in many places. One example of static electricity is when your hair stands up after taking off your hat in winter. Another example in nature is lightning. Lightning is created when an electrical charge builds up and then is released - discharged - from the clouds and seems to jump to the ground.

A Static Electricity Experiment

It is easy to create static electricity. Here is an experiment to see how static electricity works. First you'll need to gather your materials.
Materials List:
· Balloon that is blown up
· Pieces of wool
· Pieces of tin foil
· Paper
· Salt
· Rice
· Paper clips
· Packing or Styrofoam peanuts
· Water (to de-charge or take the charge off of objects so they won't stick)

During this science experiment, you will use a balloon and 4 common objects to explore and observe what static electricity is and how it behaves. Follow these steps and you will see how static electricity works.

1. Choose 4 materials to test and list them on the recording sheet.

2. Make a prediction about each of the materials. Will this material be attracted (stick) to the balloon?

3. Rub a balloon with a piece of wool to charge it for your investigation.

4. Touch each of your objects against the balloon, one at a time. Observe each material to see which materials are attracted (stick) to the balloon.

5. Record your results - what really happened - on your recording sheet.

6. Read over your results and tell something you learned about static electricity.

Explain how static electricity is formed. Use details from the passage to support your answer.

R-3-8.5 (inference - cause-effect) KEY: Score Guide

Item Type: CR - related to passage

Alignment to GLE R-3-8.5: Analyze and interpret informational texts, citing evidence where appropriate by… Making inferences about causes or effects

Depth of Knowledge: Level 3 - Make and support inferences about implied causes and effects about text (e.g., possible titles, main ideas)