How Do You Bend Water (Static Electricity Example)?
Most people are familiar with static electricity and its effects: getting shocked when touching a metal doorknob after walking across carpet, or rubbing a balloon on your head to make your hair stand on end. Even lighting is an example on a much larger scale. Static electricity occurs when an electrical charge builds up due to friction between two different objects. These items typically are not good at conducting electricity. This article will show you how to bend a stream of water using static electricity. It is a simple but interesting example of the effects of static electricity. Turn on the faucet so that the water runs out in a small but steady stream (not full blast). Charge the comb with static electricity by running it through long and dry hair several times or rub it roughly on a sweater. Slowly bring the comb near the stream of water and watch the static electricity cause the water to “bend.” Try also using the static electricity from a balloon instead of a comb.
