INTRODUCTION:
Electrical forces are much stronger than gravitational forces. While a gravitational force needs a mass the size of the Earth to be felt, electrical forces can be noticed with very small electrical charges. This property allows us to experiment with static electricity forces.

PURPOSE:
The purpose of this experiment is to determine the types of interactions that can occur between charged objects as well as between charged objects and uncharged objects.

MATERIALS: 3 pieces of transparent tape 10 cm long, ring stand, non-conducting surface ( wooden splint), furs, and rods

PROCEDURES:

1) Connect the non-conducting surface (wooden splint) to the rings stand so that the tape can hang from the splint.

2) Fold over a small portion of each tape so it can be pulled of the table easily.

3) Place one piece of tape on the table, sticky side down, and rub it back and forth vigorously. SLOWLY pull the tape off the table. It is now charged...be CAREFUL not to discharge it by touching it any more than necessary. Place the tape on the non-conducting surface when not using it.

4) Place some SMALL pieces of paper on the table and bring the charged tape's non-sticky side close to the papers. Try to pick up some of the papers.

QUESTION 1: Can you pick up any papers? If so, how many?

QUESTION 2: Is the paper charged? How do you know?

QUESTION 3: Is the tape charge? How do you know? (Don't say you know because step 3 told you so..do you believe EVERYTHING anyone tells you??)

5) Place tape 1 on the non-conducting surface and charge up a second tape like in step 3.

6) Bring tape 2's non-sticky side near the non-stick side of tape 1.

QUESTION 4: What happened? Why do you think this happened? Why does it only happen when tape 2 is relatively near tape 1?

7) Place tape 2 next to tape 1. Charge a third piece of tape like in step 3.

8) Bring tape 3's non-sticky side near the non-sticky side of tape 1 and then tape 2.

QUESTION 5: What happened? Why do you think this happened?

9) Place tape 3 on the table. Place tape 2 on top of tape 3. Rub both tapes with your finger. Discharge the tapes by slowly pulling them off the table together and then rubbing them back and force over the ring stand's metal rod. SLOWLY pull the two tapes apart.

10) Bring tape 3 and tape 2 near each other non-sticky side to non-sticky side.

QUESTION 6: What happened? Why do you think this happened?

11) Slowly bring first tape 3 and then tape 2 near tape 1 (non-sticky side to non-sticky side).

QUESTION 7: What happened? Why do you think this happened?

12) Place all three tapes on the non-conducting surface. Charge up a rod with a fur. Bring the rod close to each of the non-sticky side's of each piece of tape.

QUESTION 8: What happened? Why do you think this happened?

ANALYSIS:

QUESTION 9: How many types of charges are there? What are they called?

QUESTION 10: What type of interactions can occur between two charged objects? When does each type of interaction occur?

QUESTION 11: What type of interaction can occur between charged and neutral objects? What does this have to do with the concepts of induced charge and polarization?

STANDARD LAB REPORT REQUIRED. NO DATA TABLE.