Name:______________________________________ Period:_______ Date:______
Balloons & Static Electricity
Google PhET Simulations. It should be the 1st link, click on the link for Physics and
“Electricity, Magnets & Circuits” Scroll down to find the “Balloons & Static Electricity.”
1.
What happens to charges when the balloon is rubbed on the sweater?
2.
What type of charging is done when the balloon is rubbed on the sweater?
(Charging by contact or charging by induction)
3.
Bring your charged balloon near the wall and describe what happens to the wall.
4.
What type of charging is done when the balloon is against the wall? (contact
or induction)
5.
Put the balloon between the wall and the sweater and describe what happens.
6.
When charging an object by contact,
a. only the positive charges move from one object to the other.
b. only the negative charges move from one object to the other.
c. both the positive and negative charges move from one object to the other.
d. neither the (+) nor the (-) charges move from one object to the other.
7.
When an object becomes charging by induction,
a. only the positive charges move within the object.
b. only the negative charges move within the object.
c. both the positive and negative charges move within the object.
d. neither the positive nor the negative charges move within the object.
8.
Based upon what you saw in this lab, then, it can be said that (circle all that apply)
a. positive charges are stationary within objects.
b. negative charges are stationary within objects.
c. positive charges are mobile within objects.
d. negative charges are mobile within objects.
John Travoltage
Google: PhET Simulations. “Electricity, Magnets & Circuits.” Scroll down
to find the “John Travoltage” simulation.
1. Rub John Travoltage’s foot on the carpet and describe what happens to
the charges.
2. What type of charging is this? (contact or induction)
3. After you stop rubbing the foot, what happens to the charges in his
body?
4. What type of particles are moving? protons, neutron or electrons
5. Touch his hand to the doorknob and describe what happens.
6. What type of charging is this? (contact or induction)
7. Over time, all the negative charges in an object,
a. remain clustered together where they were placed.
b. spread out over a small area on the object.
c. spread out over a large area on the object.
8. When a charged object touches a conductor (doorknob),
a. the (+) charges move to the conductor & exit the object
b. the (-) charges move to the conductor & exit the object.
c. both (+) & (-) charges move to conductor & exit object
d. neither (+) nor (-) charges move to the conductor.