Balloons & Static Electricity Community
Questions, answers and tips from people who use the Balloons & Static Electricity. Rub a balloon on a sweater and watch it stick to the wall, showing charge transfer and induced charge..
Ask a question about Balloons & Static Electricity
Anyone can read this page. To ask a question, reply or vote, please log in. It takes under a minute.
Log in to askNo questions yet. Yours can be first.
This page shows only real posts from real people, so it starts empty. The guide below has the questions people most often have about the Balloons & Static Electricity. Pick one to start a thread, or write your own.
From the tool guide: common questions about Balloons & Static Electricity
The items below are not posts by community members. They come from the written guide for this tool and are here to get a conversation started. Use “Ask a follow-up” to open a thread about any of them.
Why does a charged balloon stick to a wall?
Its negative charge pushes electrons away in the wall, leaving the near surface slightly positive, so they attract.
From the tool guide Ask a follow-upDoes the balloon lose its charge?
Slowly, because charge leaks into the air and wall.
From the tool guide Ask a follow-upKey ideas
- Rubbing moves electrons from the sweater to the balloon.
- The balloon becomes negative and the sweater positive.
- A charged balloon polarises the wall, so it sticks.
- Two negative balloons repel.
Things to try
- Rub it more and let it go near the wall.
- Add a second balloon and watch them repel.
- Show only the differences in charge.
Where this is used
The same effects cause dust to cling to screens and are used in photocopiers and air cleaners.
How to ask a question people can answer
A good thread on the Balloons & Static Electricity saves everyone time. Start with a title that names the exact problem, such as the input you used, the result you expected and the result you got. A title like “Not working” is hard to answer, while a title with the specifics gets replies quickly.
- Say what you tried. List the steps you followed and any settings you changed, so replies do not repeat what you already did.
- Share a small example. A short sample input and the output you saw is worth more than a long description. Remove anything private first.
- Mention your setup. Your device, browser and whether you are on a phone or a computer can explain many odd results.
- One question per thread. Separate topics get clearer answers and are easier to find later with the search box above.
- Come back and reply. If a suggestion worked, say so and upvote it, and if you found the fix yourself, post it for the next person.
Community rules
Be kind, stay on topic and keep personal data out of your posts. Do not post adult, hateful or illegal content, advertising or repeated links. Every post is shown with its author’s username and date, and posts that break these rules can be hidden by moderators. This space is for help with the Balloons & Static Electricity and related tasks, and it is separate from the sitewide discussion forum where broader topics live.