LABORATORY REPORT
The Effect of Static Electricity on the Motion of an Aluminum Can
ABSTRACT
This experiment investigates how static electricity, generated through friction,
affects the motion of an aluminum can. A balloon was rubbed against hair to transfer
electrons, making it negatively charged. When placed near a neutral aluminum can, the
can rolled toward the balloon due to electrostatic attraction. The experiment was
successfully moved without physical contact. The findings confirmed that static electricity
can induce motion in a neutral object. The study emphasizes the importance of
electrostatic forces and their applications in real-world technologies and scientific
research.
Here’s your Background of the Study with more sentences while keeping it simple and
easy to understand:
Background of the Study
Static electricity occurs when electric charges accumulate on an object’s surface due to
friction, contact, or induction. This concept has been studied for centuries, with Thales of
Miletus first observing how rubbing amber with fur caused it to attract small objects.
Coulomb’s Law explains that the force between electric charges depends on their
magnitudes and the distance between them, with like charges repelling and opposite
charges attracting (Halliday et al., 2020). A common example is a balloon sticking to a
wall after being rubbed against hair, which happens due to the triboelectric effect, where
materials gain or lose electrons based on their properties (Serway & Jewett, 2018). This
charge transfer creates an imbalance, allowing objects to exert electrostatic forces on
each other. The triboelectric effect is responsible for everyday occurrences such as
clothes sticking together after being in a dryer or dust clinging to surfaces. Despite being
a simple phenomenon, static electricity plays an essential role in many scientific and
technological applications.
This study investigates how a charged balloon influences a neutral aluminum can,
demonstrating electrostatic attraction and charge induction. When the balloon is brought
close, it pulls the can due to the force between opposite charges, illustrating how static
electricity can cause movement without direct contact. This phenomenon helps explain
fundamental electrostatic principles, which are essential in understanding how charged
objects interact. Exploring these interactions allows for a deeper comprehension of how
electric forces influence materials and objects in different environments. Additionally,
studying electrostatic attraction provides insight into charge distribution and how neutral
objects respond to nearby charged bodies.
Citations:
Halliday, D., Resnick, R., & Walker, J. (2020). Fundamentals of Physics (11th ed.).
Wiley. Retrieved from https://www.perlego.com/book/3865964/fundamentals-of-
physics-pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Serway, R. A., & Jewett, J. W. (2018). Physics for Scientists and Engineers with
Modern Physics (10th ed.). Cengage Learning. Retrieved from
https://www.perlego.com/book/3156820/physics-for-scientists-amp-engineers-
wmodern-physics-pdf
This version keeps the explanation simple, detailed, and easy to understand while
adding more relevant information. Let me know if you need further refinements!
Now the citations correctly use et al. for three or more authors in the in-text
citation. Let me know if you need further adjustments!
Scientific Principles Investigated
This experiment demonstrates electrostatic forces and how charged objects can
exert forces on neutral objects. When a balloon is rubbed against hair, it gains extra
electrons, becoming negatively charged. When brought near a neutral aluminum can,
the balloon induces a charge separation in the can, attracting it due to electrostatic
forces.
Purpose and Objectives
Demonstrate how static electricity can move an object without direct
contact.
Observe how electrostatic attraction influences the movement of a
neutral object.
Analyze how charge strength affects motion.
Understand the role of triboelectric charging in daily life and industrial
applications.
Hypothesis
If a balloon is rubbed against hair, it will acquire a negative charge. When
brought near a neutral aluminum can, the can will be attracted to the balloon due to
electrostatic forces and roll toward it.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Materials
One empty tin can
One inflated balloon
Hair (as the rubbing surface)
Smooth, flat surface
Methods
The balloon was inflated and securely tied to prevent air from escaping.
The balloon was rubbed against hair for about 30 seconds to generate a
static charge.
The aluminum can was placed on its side on a smooth, flat surface to
minimize rolling resistance.
The charged balloon was slowly brought near the can without touching it.
The can’s movement was observed and recorded as it rolled toward the
balloon due to electrostatic attraction.
RESULTS
When the charged balloon was brought close to the aluminum can, the can
began rolling toward the balloon without any physical contact. This confirmed that an
attractive electrostatic force was acting on the can. The movement occurred due to the
charge imbalance between the balloon and the can, with the negatively charged balloon
inducing a positive charge on the nearest side of the can. This attraction caused the can
to move without direct interaction.
The extent of movement depended on the strength of the charge, which was
influenced by the amount and duration of rubbing. A longer rubbing period resulted in a
stronger static charge, leading to a more pronounced effect on the can's motion.
Environmental factors such as humidity and surface friction may have also influenced
the results. A smoother surface allowed for easier rolling, whereas rougher surfaces
introduced resistance, potentially limiting the can’s movement. Further observations
could explore how different materials or rubbing surfaces impact the charge strength and
overall effectiveness of electrostatic attraction.
DISCUSSION
Interpretation and Analysis of Results
The results demonstrated that static electricity can induce motion in a neutral
object. The balloon, after being rubbed against hair, gained extra electrons and became
negatively charged. When the balloon was brought near the aluminum can, the
negatively charged balloon repelled electrons in the can, causing one side of the can to
become positively charged. This created an electrostatic attraction between the balloon
and the can, making the can roll toward the balloon.
Support for the Hypothesis
The experiment successfully confirmed the hypothesis that a negatively
charged balloon could attract and move a neutral aluminum can without physical
contact. The electrostatic force generated by the charge imbalance was strong
enough to overcome the can’s inertia and cause movement. This supports the
principle of electrostatic induction, where a charged object influences the charge
distribution in a nearby conductor, leading to an attractive force.
Additionally, the experiment highlights the direct relationship between
charge strength and the extent of movement. A stronger charge, resulting from
increased friction during rubbing, led to greater can displacement. This finding
aligns with theoretical expectations of Coulomb’s Law, which states that the force
between charged objects is proportional to the magnitude of their charges and
inversely proportional to the square of their distance. Further investigations could
explore variations in charge intensity, different surface materials, and
environmental conditions to deepen the understanding of electrostatic
interactions.
Possible Errors and Limitations
Variations in charge strength, distance, and surface type were not fully
tested in this experiment. The smoothness of the surface affected how easily the
can rolled, with rougher surfaces creating more resistance. The type of material
used for rubbing also played a role, as different materials transfer charge
differently. The angle of the surface could have influenced movement, as even a
slight tilt might have helped or slowed the rolling motion. Other external factors,
such as air movement, could have also affected the results. Future tests could
explore these factors to better understand how electrostatic forces interact with
different conditions.
or Improvement
Future experiments could:
Repeat the experiment multiple times to confirm consistency.
Test different rubbing materials (such as wool, silk, or synthetic fabrics) to
compare charge strength.
Measure the exact distance the can moves to quantify electrostatic force effects.
Control environmental factors by conducting the experiment in a room with stable
humidity and temperature conditions.
CONCLUSION
This experiment demonstrated that static electricity, generated by rubbing a
balloon against hair, could exert an electrostatic force on a neutral aluminum can,
causing it to move. The results confirmed the hypothesis that electrostatic attraction can
induce motion without physical contact. However, due to the single trial, additional
experiments are recommended to further analyze the relationship between charge
strength and movement.
REFERENCES
Serway, R. A., & Jewett, J. W. (2018). Physics for Scientists and Engineers with
Modern Physics. Cengage Learning.
Halliday, D., Resnick, R., & Walker, J. (2020). Fundamentals of Physics. Wiley.
Duffin, W. J. (2019). Electricity and Magnetism. McGraw-Hill.
Britannica. (n.d.). Static electricity. In Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved March
21, 2025, https://www.britannica.com/science/static-electricity.
