Defining Characteristics of the Electric Charge Interaction

Hypothesis for paper: I think the the paper will not be attracted because paper is not a magnetic material, and doesn't conduct an electric charge very good.

Hypothesis for aluminum: I think the aluminum will be attracted to the balloon because aluminum is a metal and it conducts an electric charge very well.

Hypothesis for balloon: I think that the balloons can either attract each other, or repel because they might have different or the same charges.

Materials:
-2 balloons
-tin foil
-paper
-wool cloth (or we used our hair on our heads) : )


Here is our table:

Material

Change in

Evidence

Non-magnetic Material

Change in Motion

The balloon attracted the paper pieces when near

Magnetic Material

Change in Motion

The balloon attracted pieces of tin foil when it was near the pile

Charged Balloon

Change in Motion

When the two charged balloons were near each other they repelled instead of attracting

(Barbara Tangas)
external image balloon02.jpg
(2 Balloons Repelling) (Barbara Tangas)
This picture is a nice touch!

Procedure: In this experiment, we wanted to discover what happens when an electrically charged object is near some pieces of paper and aluminum that don't have a charge, and what happens when a charged object interact with another charged object.
Step 1: We ripped up some paper and aluminum foil into small pieces and separated them into two piles.
Step 2: Then we blew up a balloon and charged it by rubbing it on the wool cloth in a specific spot.
tep 3: We held the charged balloon over the pieces of paper and they were attracted to the charged spot on the balloon.
Step 4: Next, we recharged the balloons and held it over the aluminum foil, and they were attracted to the charged spot as well.
Step 5: Then, we blew up another balloon and charged it in a certain spot as well. We put the two charged balloons near each other to see what would happen, and they repelled each other.


Results:
Non-magnetic material(torn up paper): When we brought the charged balloon near the torn up paper, it was attracted to the charged balloon. The paper had a change in motion.
Magnetic material(torn up tinfoil): When we brought the charged balloon near the torn up tinfoil, it was immediately attracted. The foil had a change in motion.
Two charged objects(two charged balloons) : When near each other, the two charged balloons repeled each other because they contained the same charge. They had a change in motion.

What are the conditions that must exist in order for an electric charge interaction to take place? What happens during an electric charge interaction? This information needs to be summed up at the end! [2 - Almost there]