Static Electricity Fun - in recognition of Static Electricity Day, January 9th. Vol. 6 #12

Our Posterity = Our Children

Enhancing our children's S.T.E.A.M education is imperative to their success and will help them become innovators of the future.

S.T.E.A.M stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math.

Hands-on activities helps us to cognitively and visually see how things work. By creating things with our hands, we can understand and appreciate the importance of its existence. We can also become better at:

Brainstorming

Creativity

Critical Thinking

Independent Thinking

Problem solving

Teamwork

Let's talk about Static Electricity!

Have you ever been shocked by grabbing a metal door handle or shaking someone's hand? Or how about your clothes sticking together after you take them out of the dryer? This occurs because there is a buildup of an electric charge on a surface. This is known as Static Electricity. Where else does static electricity occur?

Static Electricity is all around us and sometimes we don't even know it. It is the buildup of an electrical charge on the surface of something. The reason it got the name static is that instead of moving around, the charges stay in one area.

Check out this video from Learning Junction!

Useful Static Electricity:

Photocopiers: To see the importance of static electricity in photocopiers check out this video by Mind Motion!

Electrostatic Precipitators- are a type of filter used to help control air pollution. It takes out harmful particles that with otherwise be released into the air at industrial facilities and power-generating stations. According to the Energy Education website, "Electrostatic precipitators are extremely effective, and are capable of removing more than 99% of particulate matter."

Check out the video below!

Harmful Static Electricity

Lightning

Lightning forms when tiny ice particles bump into each other inside a cloud. This creates an electric charge. Positive energy rises to the top of the cloud, while the heavier negative energy falls to the bottom. When the two charges grow big enough, they create a huge spark. This is like static electricity but on a larger scale. These sparks can happen inside a cloud, move from cloud to cloud or between the ground

and a cloud!

Keeping your Electronics Safe

Some electronics and can be destroyed when it is exposed to static electricity. Your cellphones or earbuds, for example, can gather static electricity that can build up on these devices. When this happens, it may cause important components to bet ruined and become inoperable.

Science

Technology

Engineering Activities

Art

Math

Let's Fly a Plastic Bag

Let's control the direction of a plastic bag using static electricity! All you will need is:

a plastic rod
a piece of cloth
a light plastic bag

Then:

Rub the surface of the rod with the cloth for 40 seconds
Flatten the plastic bag and rub the cloth against its surface for 40 seconds
Release the plastic bag and watch it levitate as you wave the rod below

Let's Roll an Aluminum Can

Let's make an aluminum can roll by using static electricity! You will need:

an empty can
a plastic rod
a piece of cloth

Then:

Rub the surface of the rod with the cloth for 40 seconds
Place the can on a flat and smooth surface
Hold the cloth close to the can without touching it and watch as it follows the movement of the rod!

Let's Bend Water

Let's try using static electricity to bend water! You will need: