Place a sock over one hand and rub one balloon with the sock. Then let the ballon hang freely. Bring your sock covered hand near the balloon. Look for other examples of static electricity around the house. All material contain millions of tiny particles, called protons and electrons, that have electric charges.
Protons have positive charges, and electrons negative ones.
Usually, they balance each other, but sometimes when two surfaces rub together, some of the electrons rub off one surface onto the other and we can have static electricity. Return to the listing of articles of December 16, 1997. Up in the Air Vanishing Mines Vietnam Visions 2000 Welfare to Work West Run Expressway Truck Crushes SUV on University Ave. Click here to read the legal restrictions and terms of use applicable to this site. Use of this site signifies your agreement to the terms of use.