What are some household items capable of gaining an electric charge?

AI Thread Summary
Household items capable of gaining an electric charge include cellophane, balloons, pop cans, plastic wrap, paper, hair, glass, and wool. The lab focuses on creating an electrostatic series by rubbing a reference material, like cellophane or a balloon, with wool to observe charge interactions. Polymers tend to acquire a negative charge when rubbed with wool, allowing for the classification of other materials as electropositive or electronegative based on their reactions. The discussion highlights the importance of triboelectricity in understanding these charge interactions. Exploring additional materials can enhance the lab's findings on electrostatic properties.
ctamasi
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Hey. I'm just doing a lab an electrostatics and my coursebook suggests a number of materials to use, however, I'm not really getting clear reactions with them.

The purpose of the lab is to create an electrostatic series. I first have to establish a reference material; I chose cellophane or a balloon because of their weight and therefore ease of noticing a reaction.

Then I have to rub the reference material in wool, and since polymers rubbed in wool acquire a negative charge, therefore are more electronegative than wool, I can determine the remainder of materials as being electropositive or electronegative by the level of attraction or repulsion experienced when another material is brough close to the reference material.

The best materials I've found are pop cans, balloons and plastic wrap. What are some other good materials to use?

Thanks a lot.
 
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paper, hair, glass, wool ... look up triboelectricity.
 
Awesome! Thanks so much, I'll look that up.
 

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