Background

When a balloon is rubbed against hair, a towel or a jumper, it gains more electrons which have a negative charge. This gives the balloon an overall negative charge. Objects with a positive charge or no overall charge like a tin can will now be attracted (= be drawn) to the balloon. We call this “static electricity”.

You will need

• Balloon
• Towel, jumper or your hair
• Empty soda can
• Water tap
• A smooth surface, e.g. a table

What to do

1. Blow up the balloon.
2. Put the empty soda can on its side on a smooth surface.
3. Rub the balloon on a towel, jumper or your hair to create static electricity.
4. Hold the balloon close to the side of the soda can, but do not let them touch.
5. Slowly move the balloon away from the soda can along the surface.
6. Observe what happens.
7. Rub the balloon again on a towel, jumper or your hair.
8. Open the water tap, so that only very little water is running. It should be almost dripping.
9. Hold the balloon close to the water, but do not let the balloon touch the water.
10. Observe what happens.

You can also watch this experiment here: