Creating static electricity from an AC outlet can be achieved through various methods, with a portable Van de Graaff generator being a common suggestion. Alternatives include using friction, such as rubbing hair with a balloon, or employing electrostatic generators like the Kelvin Water Dropper, which operates without AC power. The Kelvin Water Dropper is particularly noted for its effectiveness and can be built using simple materials. For those interested in constructing such devices, resources like Bill Beaty's website are recommended for guidance. Overall, there are several safe and creative ways to generate static electricity for experiments.
