When was little I remember rubbing my feet across the carpet and then touching my sister's arm. It would shock her, and most definitely be annoying. Sometimes she would retaliate with the same shocking business. I was recently able to show my sons the powers of static electricity.
I told my sons that if they were good at the doctor then I would reward them with balloons. They were very excited about this, and earned their reward. So when I was watching them throw the balloons around I had the idea to use static electricity to move a pop can. I had the boys rub the balloons on their heads and hold it next to the pop can. The electricity moved the pop can. My 5-year said it was magic, which gave my husband the idea to rub the balloon on his head then stick it to his hands and the wall. This was really mind blowing for the boys. Then they had to try.
I explained that it was electricity that made the balloon stick to things and move the pop can. I used lightning as an example of this kind of electricity. When electricity builds up in the clouds it strikes as lightning, and when it builds up on the balloon it sticks to things or pushed things away. Explaining atoms, protons, neutrons, and electrons is going to have to wait a few years.
Maybe next time we'll have to try pop can races.
No comments:
Post a Comment