Storms - Experiment 1 - Lightning Sparks: Explore how separating charges causes an attraction between objects
Experiment 1
Lightning Sparks: Explore how separating charges causes an attraction between objects
Purpose/Hypothesis
Lightning that is produced during a storm is simply a massive electric spark, which is called static electricity. Friction causes the particles to separate into positive and negative charges. These opposite charges attract one another, and when the electric charges are separated they look for a way to get back together. In a storm, the jump of numerous negative charges reaching out towards the positive charges produces a bolt of lighting. A miniature version of static electricity will produce sparks and an attraction between charged objects.
In this experiment you will explore what happens when you cause charges to separate. You will use friction to create electrical charges on a balloon, and observe how three different...
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