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Atoms in Action

Explore atoms and their components and learn how the parts interact!

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In this experiment, students explore static electricity to see how electrons behave and interact with matter.

By rubbing a balloon on their hair or wool, they create a buildup of negative charge (electrons) on the balloon.

When the charged balloon is held near crisped rice cereal, the cereal is attracted to it—demonstrating how opposite charges attract.

Students observe how objects made of atoms respond to electric charges, helping them understand concepts like electron transfer, attraction and repulsion, and real-life phenomena like getting shocked after walking across carpeted floors.

Learning Objectives

  • Standards Alignment + Connections

  • How to Run the Experiment


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