Stuck on You: A Static Electricity Activity

All materials contain millions of tiny particles, called protons and electrons, that have electric charges. Protons have positive charges, and electrons negative ones. Usually, they balance each other, but sometimes when two surfaces rub together, some of the electrons rub off one surface onto the other, and we can have static electricity. Materials with like charges (all positive or all negative) move away from each other; those with opposite charges attract each other.

What You Need

A cool dry day
2 round balloons (inflated and tied)
2 20-inch pieces of string
Wool or acrylic sock
Mirror

What to Do

Have your child tie a string to each inflated balloon. Then tell them to rub a balloon on their hair for about 15 seconds—help them to rub around the whole balloon. Take the balloon away and see what happens to their hair! Then have them observe what happens when they bring the balloon back close to their hair.
Next, stand a few feet away from and facing your child. Have them rub the balloon on their hair again as you do the same with the other balloon. Tell them to hold the string to their balloon, letting it hang freely but without letting it touch anything. (You do the same with your balloon.) Slowly move the two balloons toward each other, but don't let them touch. Have your child tell you what's happening: Do the balloons push away from each other, or do they pull toward each other? Have them place her hand between the two hanging balloons. What happens?
Give your child a sock to place over one hand. Tell them to rub their balloon with the sock, then let the balloon hang freely. Have them move their sock-covered hand near the balloon. What happens? Have them try rubbing both balloons with the sock and then letting them hang near each other. What happens now?