Super Sparker Static Electricity

Name of Activity

Super Sparker Static Electricity

Author

Andrea Dwyer

Keywords

household materials, lightning, static electricity, electrons, protons, thunder

Subject

Non-LEGO

Grade Level

K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Time

1 Hour Total

Brief Description

Students use household materials to create an electric current similar to lightning.

This is a static electricity activity based two versions I found online: one was

an entry by Ramona Gravesande that was previously in the activities database

and the other the website http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/sparker.html.

I combined the instructions in those two activities to create an activity that works more effectively.For older students, you may want to combine this activity with another electricity activity, such as creating electromagnets.

Lesson Objectives:

To teach students how lightning forms and why it strikes.

Materials Needed:

- Styrofoam plates.

- Tape.

- Aluminum pie pans.

- A pencil with eraser.

- Pieces of wool fabric.

Preparation and Set Up:

- Gather necessary materials.

- Arrange students into groups of 2-4.

- Distribute necessary materials.

Necessary Background

Lightening occurs when a connection is made from electrons in the bottom

of a cloud to protons in the ground. Electrons in the bottom of the cloud are

attracted to the protons in the ground. When the connection is made the protons

rush to meet the electron and that is when you see lightening. A bolt of lightning

heats the air along its path casing it to expand rapidly. Thunder is the sound

caused by this rapid expanding air.

Vocabulary:

lightning

electrons

protons

lightning

thunder

Procedure

1.    Tape the pencil onto the center of the pie plate with the eraser touching the pie plate so that the pencil becomes a handle.                              

2.    Rub the underside of the Styrofoam plate on your hair or the wool for one minute. Rub fast.

4.    Now–very slowly–touch the tip of your finger to the pie tin. Wow! What a spark! (Be careful. DON’T touch the Styrofoam plate. If you do, you won’t get a spark.)

5.    Use the handle to pick up the pie tin again. When the tin is in the air, touch the tin with the tip of your finger. Wow! You get another great spark.

6.    Drop the pie tin onto the Styrofoam tray again. Touch the pie tin. Another spark! Use the handle to pick up the pie tin. More sparks!

7.    You can do this over and over for a long time. If the pie tin stops giving you a spark, just rub the Styrofoam tray on your head again, and start over.

8.    Try using your Super Sparker in the dark. Can you see the tiny lightning bolts you make? What color are they?

Reference 1

http://sites.tufts.edu/stompactivitydatabase/files/formidable/Lightning.pdf

Reference 2

http://sites.tufts.edu/stompactivitydatabase/files/formidable/Super-Sparker-Explanation.doc

Reference 3

http://sites.tufts.edu/stompactivitydatabase/files/formidable/Super-Sparker-Making-Lightning-Activity.doc