Nice Electrostatic Experiments

[Septim]

Hello everyone,

I am thinking of a nice experiment that can be done in high school laboratory. It is not obligatory for them to include calculations, they just have to be easily conducted without expensive equipment and relatively safe. The main purpose is to make students learn through experiments which are interesting. Any opinion is welcome please do not hesitate to post!

Thanks

 

[schip666!]

There's probably some in this old but way-cool seat-of-the-pants 700 Science Experiments book:
http://www.arvindguptatoys.com/arvindgupta/700un1.pdf

Or your can make a simple electroscope out of a jar and a couple of sheets of foil or loops of string. You need the jar to eliminate wind currents. Actually I'll bet that's in the above book someplace...

 

[Septim]

Thanks, I will have a look at the book you have mentioned.By the way making a simple electroscope is not an interesting task for students in my opinion I bet I can find something interesting on the book. Suggestions are always welcome.

 

[Deric Boyle]

Why not try this one:- (long back done by Sir Michael Faraday)
Take a bowl(approx. 30 cm in diameter) pour water halfway.Now spprinkle some cumin seeds on the water surface(to make it look beautiful you could also use colored (small)bits of paper).
Now charge an ebonite/plastic rod (by friction).
Now bring(dip) the rod near the surface of water (at the dead centre of the bowl)

Results(you already Know!):-Analogus to that done with a magnet and iron fillings.
I your students will find this one interesting.
Edit:- Oops! poppy seeds drown also Sir Faraday used cumin seeds.Charge the rods nicely.

 

[Septim]

Is the rod perpendiculary dipped into the water or is it held above the water in a horizontal manner? I did not understand that. Thanks for the suggestion by the way I really like it.