Observing electrostatic forces in Force – Class 8 Science Experiment

Chapter Name: Force

Activity Name: Observing electrostatic forces in Force

Activity Description:

Required Items:

1. Balloon
2. Paper (or other materials like pepper and salt)
3. Scissors (if using paper)
4. A dry cloth or wool to rub the balloon

Step by Step Procedure:

1. Cut the paper into small pieces (if using paper) and place them on the floor or table.
2. Inflate the balloon and tie up the open end to keep the air inside.
3. Rub the balloon with a dry cloth or wool. This will transfer charges to the surface of the balloon, making it a charged body.
4. Hold the charged balloon close to the pieces of paper and observe what happens.
5. Note the behavior of the pieces of paper in the presence of the charged balloon.
6. Optionally, you can repeat the experiment using pepper and salt in place of paper and observe the results.

Experiment Observations:

• When the charged balloon is brought near the pieces of paper, the bits of paper will be attracted to the balloon and may even rise and cling to its surface.
• Similarly, if using pepper and salt, they may also be attracted to the charged balloon.

Precautions:

1. Make sure the balloon is inflated and tied securely to prevent air leakage.
2. Ensure that the balloon is charged properly by rubbing it with a cloth or wool.
3. Handle the charged balloon carefully to avoid any electric shocks.
4. Keep any flammable or sensitive materials away from the experiment area.

Lesson Learnt from Experiment:

Through this experiment, we learn about electrostatic forces. When a balloon is rubbed, it acquires an electrostatic charge. The charged balloon exerts an electrostatic force on the pieces of paper (or other materials like pepper and salt), causing them to be attracted to the balloon. This experiment demonstrates the concept of charged bodies and the force at a distance, known as electrostatic force.