Science 9 Laboratory Investigation

Title: My, You're Attractive!

Topic: electrostatics

Process:

1. Charge a plastic strip with one swipe of fuzzy cloth and then hold the strip about 0.5 cm above confetti on the bench top. Record the number of confetti pieces that stick to the plastic strip.

2. Discharge the strip by sliding it back and forth on both sides across a water tap. Recharge it again with one swipe of fuzzy cloth and hold it close to a small, controlled stream of water from the tap.

Make a sketch of the results.

3. Discharge the plastic strip and recharge it with with five swipes of fuzzy cloth and then hold it about 0.5 cm above confetti on the bench top. Record the number of confetti pieces that stick to the plastic strip.

4. Discharge the plastic strip and recharge it with five swipes of the fuzzy cloth and hold it close to a small, controlled stream of water from the tap. Make a sketch of the results.

Questions:

1. Why does rubbing the fuzzy cloth over the plastic strip create static charges on both materials?

2. Explain the difference in the results when the plastic strip was charged with five swipes of the fuzzy cloth.

3. How does the law of charges explain why the confetti and the water molecules are attracted to the plastic strip?

4. Why were you able to discharge the plastic strip by sliding it across the metal tap?

5. Think: What force of nature tries to keep the confetti pieces and the water from moving toward the plastic strip?