This experiment illustrates that atoms have positive and negative parts.
Things Required:
Piece of notebook paper
Paper hole punch
Balloon (use a size easily held in your hand)
Directions:
Use the hole punch to cut 75 to 20 small circles from the piece of paper. Separate the circles and spread them on a table. Inflate the balloon and tie it.
Rub the balloon against your hair, about five strokes. It is important that your hair be clean, dry, and free from oil. Hold the balloon close to, but not touching the paper circles.
This Is What Happens:
The paper circles will hop up and stick to the balloon.
Science Behind It:
Paper is an example of matter, and all matter is made up of atoms. Each atom has a positive centre with negatively charged electrons spinning around the outside. The balloon rubs the electrons off the hair, giving the balloon excess of negative charges. The positive part of the paper circles is attracted to the excessive negative charge on the balloon. This attraction between the positive and negative charge is great enough to overcome the force of gravity, and the circles will hop upward towards the balloon.
