Students groups are investigating the following variables using the SmartScience model of inquiry:
- changing the rubbing motion (back-and-forth, circular, etc...)
- changing the rubbing speed
- changing the material doing the rubbing (e.g. hair, tile floor, chalkboard, carpet, sweater)
- changing the temperature when rubbing
- changing the moisture level of the rubbing surface
- changing the amount of time spent rubbing
- changing the length of hair that is acting as the rubbing surface
Tomorrow, we will be conducting our research in order to determine which of the above has the greatest affect on the accumulation of static electricity in a balloon.
For more information on static electricity, watch this Bill Nye video:
