Experiment 2: Static MaterialsIn this experiment, you will investigate the phenomenon of static electricity of various materials. MaterialsElectrostatics Kit Materials*Paper (Any Kind)*Flat Work Surface *You Must ProvideProcedure1. Tear the paper into small pieces (approximately the size of a hole-punch) and scatter them in a small area on a table or flat surface. 2. Choose one plastic strip (acetate [wide and clear], vinyl [narrow], or polyethylene [wide and white]) and one of fabric (wool or cotton cloth) from the electrostatics kit. 3. Quickly rub the fabric up and down the length of the plastic strip for approximately 20seconds. 4. Bring the plastic strip near the small, torn pieces of paper. 5. Record observations about the amount picked up and behavior of the paper in Table 2. 6. Repeat Steps 2 – 5 for five additional fabric and plastic combinations.Table 2: Static Electricity Properties of Various MaterialsType of Plastic Type of Fabric Observations © 2014 eScience Labs, LLC.All Rights ReservedPost-Lab Questions1. What happens when you bring the charged plastic strip near the paper pieces? Why does this happen?2. Draw a free body diagram of the forces acting on the piece of paper. 3. Why does the electric force easily overcome the force of gravity and lift the paper off the surface without even touching the paper?4. Which of the materials pick up positive charge and which pick up negative charge? How did you determine this? © 2014 eScience Labs, LLC.All Rights
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