5A40.21 - Electrostatics - Particles & Charged Rods

Charge a balloon with the cat's fur.  Wave the balloon over a pile of Rice Krispies or Puffed Wheat and watch the breakfast food jump onto the balloon.
Vermiculite is good to use if you really want things to jump around.  Put a handful into a watch glass and wave either of the charged wands over it.  The vermiculite will first jump up to the charged wand. Once the vermiculite particles have touched the wand they will be repelled from the wand.  So basically the particles will jump onto and then off of the wand with only a few actually sticking to the wand.
Break up some Styrofoam peanuts.  Charge the Lucite rod with the silk and wave over the peanuts.  The peanuts will jump to the Lucite rod, even when the rod is held up to 6 inches above the peanuts.
The "paper punches" work very well with a charged balloon.  They will jump to and from the balloon very vigorously.  Some bridging may also be observed.
Code Number:
5A40.21
Demo Title:
Electrostatics - Particles & Charged Rods
Condition:
Excellent
Principle:
Electrostatics
Area of Study:
Electricity & Magnetism
Equipment:
Styrofoam peanuts, Rice Krispies, Vermiculite, Puffed Wheat, Electrostatic Rods, Charging Cloths, Balloons.
Procedure:

Charge a balloon with the cat's fur.  Wave the balloon over a pile of Rice Krispies or Puffed Wheat and watch the breakfast food jump onto the balloon. 

Vermiculite is good to use if you really want things to jump around.  Put a handful into a watch glass and wave either of the charged wands over it.  The vermiculite will first jump up to the charged wand. Once the vermiculite particles have touched the wand they will be repelled from the wand.  So basically the particles will jump onto and then off of the wand with only a few actually sticking to the wand.  

Break up some Styrofoam peanuts.  Charge the Lucite rod with the silk and wave over the peanuts.  The peanuts will jump to the Lucite rod, even when the rod is held up to 6 inches above the peanuts.

The "paper punches" work very well with a charged balloon.  They will jump to and from the balloon very vigorously.  Some bridging may also be observed.

References:
  • Gorazd Planinsic, "Increasing the Electric Field by Squeezing Charges", TPT, Vol. 45, # 6, Sept. 2007, p. 393.
  • George M. Hopkins, "Frictional Electricity", Experimental Science, p. 359.
  • Charles Vivian, "A Hair-Raising Experiment", Science Experiments & Amusements For Children, p. 26.
  • Janice VanCleave, "64, Dancing Papers", Teaching the Fun of Physics, p. 100.
  • Janice VanCleave, "65, Charged Comb", Teaching the Fun of Physics, p. 101.
  • Jearl Walker, "5.18, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme", The Flying Circus of Physics Ed. 2, p. 226.
  • Joey Green, "Magnetic Balloon", The Mad Scientist Handbook, p. 61.
  • "Jumping Grains", Physics From the Junk Drawer, 3rd Edition, The Science House, North Carolina State University, p. 30.
  • Rudolf F. Graf, "Tricks with a Comb", Safe and Simple Electrical Experiments, p. 5.
  • Rudolf F. Graf, "Plaster Your Wall with Cards", Safe and Simple Electrical Experiments, p. 31.
  • Rudolf F. Graf, "Picking Up Salt Electrostatically", Safe and Simple Electrical Experiments, p. 32.
  • Rudolf F. Graf, "Cleaning Your Records Electrostatically", Safe and Simple Electrical Experiments, p. 35.

Disclaimer: These demonstrations are provided only for illustrative use by persons affiliated with The University of Iowa and only under the direction of a trained instructor or physicist.  The University of Iowa is not responsible for demonstrations performed by those using their own equipment or who choose to use this reference material for their own purpose.  The demonstrations included here are within the public domain and can be found in materials contained in libraries, bookstores, and through electronic sources.  Performing all or any portion of any of these demonstrations, with or without revisions not depicted here entails inherent risks.  These risks include, without limitation, bodily injury (and possibly death), including risks to health that may be temporary or permanent and that may exacerbate a pre-existing medical condition; and property loss or damage.  Anyone performing any part of these demonstrations, even with revisions, knowingly and voluntarily assumes all risks associated with them.