"Hair Raising Balloons"

Molly Wellinghoff

Contrived

"Hair Raising Balloons"

 

This picture depicts static electricity, but in order to understand it you have to go on a molecular level. An atom contains protons, which are positively charged, at the center and electrons, which are negatively charged, surrounding it on the outside. The number of protons in an atom can't change, but electrons can either be added or taken away. This causes the atom to have a positive or negative charge. If an atom loses electrons, then the protons outnumber it and it is positively charged. If electrons are added to the atom, then the electrons outnumber the protons and it is positively charged. In this case, electrons were transferred from the balloon to her hair, giving the balloon a positive charge and her hair a negative charge. This is due to the Conservation of Electric Charge, which says that electric charge can't be created or destroyed. Instead they jump from one object to another. Static electricity is the buildup of electrons on an object. Since positive and negative charges attract, her hair is attracted to the balloon and sticks to it. Eventually the positive and negative charges will neutralize and her hair will fall back down.

Done