Magic of Science
Static electricity
Skills and concepts:
- understanding the nature of charged particles;
- investigating how charged and neutral particles behave
when they interact with each other;
- understanding the nature of static electricity
and how it is generated;
- explain the difference between static electricity and current;
- identify how static electricity is generated in every day life and explain under what conditions;
- give explanations to the terms charge, negative, positive, insulation, current, repulsion, electron.
A Van De Graaff Generator is used to generate static electricity. As the name implies the charge is static or stationary and builds up on the generator or what ever is attached to it.
When an object is brought close to the generator, the accumulation of charge can move from the generator to the object with a brilliant spark.
How does the Van de Graaff generator work?
What is the purpose of the yellow belt seen in the video?
Why does the charge remain on the metal head?
How is a spark formed when a neutral object is brought close?
The rod that was brought close to the generator to produce the spark was earthed. What does earthed mean?
The Magic Octopus
Explain how this trick works. Use the words charge, neutral, repulsion attraction, positive, negative.
What keeps the tentacles of the octopus spread out evenly around the generator?
How do the tentacles of the octopus reach out to grab the hand?
Solution (induced polarity)
Explain how this trick works using the words, charge, repulsion, positive, negative.