5 Easy Static Electricity Experiments (Do Try This at Home!)

You know the feeling. You walk across the carpet on a dry winter’s day, touch the metal doorknob, and zing! You shock your fingers. This is static electricity — and it’s the same phenomenon that creates lightning (on a much larger scale, of course!).

You can have fun with your kids, exploring static electricity with these 5 easy experiments. If you want to do all five experiments, you’ll need:

a couple of balloons
a towel or similar natural-fiber material to rub things against to build up a static charge
your own head
an empty soda can
a plastic produce bag
some cardboard
glue
construction paper
tissue paper
googly eyes (optional)
salt
pepper
plastic spoon (or just use the balloons again)

A few of these items you could probably substitute, if necessary, but for most you’ll want to stick pretty closely to the list.

1. The classic hair-standing-on-end trick

We’ve probably all done this at some point. Rub the balloon on your shirt or a towel (or directly in your hair, if you don’t mind making a mess of it), then hold it a short distance from your head, and watch your hair stick to the balloon. If you need more instructions than that, you’ll find them at the link for experiment #2…

2. Roll a can.

The amount of charge generated through simple friction isn’t super-strong, but it does have enough pull to move light objects — like an empty soda can. (The kids might have fun trying it with a full can first, so they can see the difference. Or, in scientific terms, observe the difference.

3. Levitating plastic bag

A produce bag is thin and light — like a soda can or hair. That means it, too, can be affected by static. Notice the difference between the last experiment, which pulls the can, and this one, which pushes the bag.

4. Fluttering butterfly

This experiment is not notably different than some of the others, except that it integrates art. Preschoolers, especially, may enjoy making this butterfly whose wings can be moved using static. (If you need a wing template, this one might work well.)

Bag of Balloons – 72 ct. Assorted Color Latex BalloonsGet It Art Wall 100-Piece Tissue Paper, 20 x 26-Inch, Assorted ColorsGet It Creativity Street Peel and Stick Wiggle Eyes Multi-Pack, 60 -Piece PackGet It Creativity Street Big Box of Chenille Stems, 150-Count, Assorted ColorsGet It

5. Separating salt & pepper

The recommended plastic spoon is a little easier to work with for this experiment, but don’t go out and buy a package of plastic spoons just for this. If you don’t have one, just use your balloon again. This experiment makes use of the difference in weight between salt and pepper.

(Older children might want to think about whether there are other reasons, besides weight, that one substance might be more readily attracted to the spoon/balloon than another. And how might this relate to lightning and staying safe in a storm?)

BONUS #6: Electroscope

I’m calling this one a bonus project because it’s more involved/less simple than the other experiments. But if you have older children, and they enjoyed the previous experiments, they might also enjoy making an electroscope.

Besides some basic school supplies, this will also require a styrofoam cup and plate, a plastic straw, an aluminum pie pan, a bit of aluminum foil, tape, thread, and a balloon.