Static electricity experiment (KS2)
Using static electricity to make tissue paper cats ‘pounce’ onto a balloon
Ever wondered why your hair sometimes sticks up and won’t go down, or why you sometimes get a mild shock when you touch something? These are effects of the build-up of static electricity.
This is one of a set of free STEM resources developed to support the teaching of the primary national curriculum. They are designed to support the delivery of key topics within maths and science. This resource focuses on making tissue paper cats ‘pounce’ and stick to a balloon through the build-up of static electricity.
Activity: Static electricity experiment (KS2)
In this engaging science experiment learners will investigate the effects of static electricity. They will rub a balloon against their jumper and use the build-up of static charge to make tissue paper cat shapes ‘pounce’ onto and stick to the balloon. They will then discuss the outcome of their experiment and explain why this happens.
This activity could be used as a main activity to introduce the concept of static electricity, or as one of several activities within a wider scheme of learning focusing on electricity and its uses.
Learners will first cut their tissue paper into small cat shapes. They could use different coloured tissue paper to make different coloured cats for more visual interest.
Learners will then blow up and tie their balloons. The balloon should be blown up fully and tied so that no air can escape. If learners struggle to do this, the teacher could complete this step in advance. Alternatively, clips could be provided to seal the balloons.
Learners will rub their balloon against their jumper several times to ‘charge’ it with static electricity. Following this, they can hold their balloon just above their tissue paper cat shapes. The cats should ‘pounce’ onto the balloon and stick to it.
Why do you think the cats ‘pounce’ and stick to the balloon? How close does the balloon need to be for the cats to pounce? What is causing this to happen?
This activity will take approximately 30-50 minutes to complete.
Tools/resources required
- Balloons
- Tissue paper
- Scissors
The engineering context
Engineers use knowledge of science concepts in their everyday work to ensure they produce solutions that are safe, functional and meet the needs of their clients. A good grasp of basic concepts, such as how electricity and static electricity works, is therefore very important.
Electrical engineers use their knowledge of how electricity works to develop new electrical products and systems.
Suggested learning outcomes
By the end of this activity students will have an understanding of the causes and effects of static electricity, they will understand how to use a balloon and a jumper to create static electricity and they will know that static electricity can be used to make paper stick to a balloon.
Download the free Static electricity experiment (KS2) activity sheet below!
All activity sheets, worksheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs.
The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
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