electricity.jpg (5852 bytes)

Balloons

 

EQUIPMENT
    redball.gif (326 bytes) 2 Balloons
    redball.gif (326 bytes) Fur & Ebonite Rod
    redball.gif (326 bytes) Silk & Glass Rod



NARRATIVE
        Balloons are used as detectors of charge and sign of charge. They are also used to show that like charges repel and unlike charges attract. Charge the balloons by rubbing then with fur or by rubbing a rod and touching the rod to the balloons. (Cat's fur rubbed with an ebonite rod leaves the fur positive and the rod negative. A glass rod rubbed on silk leaves the rod positive and the silk negative.) The balloons now repel each other. If the charging device is brought near the pith balls, they will be attracted to the device.

Does not work well in high humidity.