Charge
Electricity and Magnetism
Forceful Comb
At home for 11-14 14-16
- Activity time 15 mins
What you need
- A nylon comb
- A water tap
Instructions
- Turn on the tap until you have a very thin stream of water
- Now grab your comb
- Run the comb through your hair several times
- Slowly bring the comb towards the water, 10cm below the tap
Results and Explanation
When the comb is about 3cm away, the water bends towards it! Some objects, like hair and plastic, develop an electrical charge when rubbed together.
The charge in your comb attracts tiny electrical charges in the water molecules, pulling them towards it.
These experiments have not been specifically safety tested for home use but we believe them to be safe if the instructions are followed. Adult supervision or direction is recommended as appropriate. All experiments are carried out at your own risk.
