Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Later this year, I will be performing this experiment, but I need to understand a few things. Is this correct-1. rub wool on acrylic 2. place electrophorus on acrylic sheet and touch electrophorus with finger 3. touch head of nail to electrophorus 4. move nail towards aluminum sheet until spark? Also, are the charge cycles just touching the charged electrophorus to nail however many times BEFORE finally touching nail to aluminum sheet? By the way, what could be a catchy title for this?

Yes, you are correct.

1. Rub the wool on the acrylic to create an excess of of electrons on the acrylic (Be consistent).
2. Place the electrophorus on the acrylic sheet holding only the Styrofoam cup, then touch the edge of the electrophorus with your finger for just a second to create a path for the repelled electrons to go.
3. Holding the Leyden Jar by the outside foil and the electrophorus by the Styrofoam cup then touch the head of the nail to the positively charged electrophorus.

At this time, you have completed 1 charge cycle, you would have to complete this entire process to get more than 1 charge. (On the procedure from the project it's both Charging the Electrophorus and Charging the Leyden Jar)

As for a catchy title, perhaps you will be inspired once you complete the experiment!

Don't hesitate to ask if you have anymore questions

Thanks for the help. Also, why was wool chosen over other materials like cotton? Does it help create static electricity faster?

Great question! Static electricity is the collection of electrically charged particles on the surface of a material. Some combinations of materials create more static electricity than others based on how they tend to give up or attract electrons to become positively or negatively charged.

Cotton happens to be a material that is relatively neutral meaning is does not tend to attract or give up any electrons, while wool will tend to give up electrons to a material that attracts them, like acrylic. Other materials that tend to give up electrons are fur, hair, glass, silk, nylon, and dry human skin. Which is why cat fur "sticks" to everything and combing your hair can cause it to "fly away"

More on static electricity can be found here https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... lectricity