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.
Students will engage in a STEM challenge to design a truck powered by a chemical reaction that will have to stop within a specific drop-off zone. Teams will be challenged with various payloads to earn bonus points if they can stop in the drop-off zone.
