Static Electricity
To use static electricity to separate a mixture of salt and pepper
Theory & Background
Have you ever wondered about this fascinating scientific process? All matter is made up of tiny atoms, which in turn are made of even smaller parts called protons, electrons and neutrons. While protons have a positive (+) charge, electrons have a negative (-) charge and neutrons have no charge at all. Usually, atoms have the same number of electrons and protons making them devoid of any charge or ‘neutral.’
Required Materials
- Salt
- Pepper (ground)
- Plastic comb
- Cloth
Estimated Time
Less than five minutes
Step-By-Step Procedure
Shake some salt on a tablecloth
Shake some pepper on top of it
Mix well with your finger
Rub the comb a few times on the cloth
Bring the comb to about an inch above the salt and pepper mixture
Experiment Tips
- Use clean dry wool cloth to rub the plastic comb for best results.
Observation
The pepper particles are attracted to the comb and attach themselves to it.
Result & Conclusion
By rubbing the plastic comb with cloth, a static electric charge was developed on the comb which causes it to attract particles towards itself. The pepper particles being lighter than salt, are attracted to the comb and attach themselves to it.