How to Generate Static Electricity

Learning how to generate static electricity is a fun experiment that helps you learn more about the physical sciences. Depending on your purpose, you can create static electricity in a variety of ways. To create a small electric current, you can rub a sock on the carpet or rub a fur coat on a plastic bag or a balloon. To generate more current, make your own electrostatic tester using household items.

Table of Contents

Generate static electricity with socks and mats

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Wear a clean, dry pair of socks. The cleaner the socks, the better they conduct electricity. If the socks are wet or dirty, they will not have enough grip on the floor so static electricity may not be generated. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Warm socks freshly removed from the dryer are the best conductors of electricity.
Although most socks can generate static electricity, wool socks are the most effective.

Walk gently on the carpet. Walk briskly while dragging your feet gently across the mat. Avoid slipping your feet or walking with too much force as this can cause the static electricity to discharge prematurely and not store enough energy to create a spark. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Usually, nylon carpets can create the best static electricity, but most carpets do create sparks. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Touching a metal object or another person. After rubbing your socks on the carpet, touch a metal object or a nearby person with your hand. You’ll know if you’re generating static electricity by feeling the shock or spark coming from you to the person or object.

If you don’t feel a slight jerk, continue dragging your feet on the carpet and try again.
Ask the person’s permission before touching them because not everyone likes being electrocuted.

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Avoid touching electronic devices. In electronic equipment that contains a chip that can be damaged by electrostatic currents or malfunction. Before touching electronics, take off your socks and touch something else to release any static electricity. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Even if an electronic device has a protective cover, it can still be damaged by electrostatic shock.

Rub the balloon against the wool to create static electricity

Blow up a balloon and tie a knot at the top. Lengthen the neck of the balloon and bring it to your mouth. Take a deep breath through your nose and cover the sides of your mouth while you blow into the balloon. You have to blow hard at first to get the balloon to start to expand, but then it’s easier to blow again. When the balloon inflates to the right size, you must tie a knot at the top to keep the air in the balloon. You can tie the knot easily by wrapping the top around two fingers (index and middle fingers) of your non-dominant hand. Then, gently separate two fingers and pull the tip of the balloon through the gap, forming a knot. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

In this experiment, you have to use rubber balloons. Balloons covered with metallic luster will not generate electricity when rubbed against a wool roll.

Rub the balloon on the wool roll. One hand holds a balloon, the other hand holds a spool of wool. Press the wool roll into the balloon and rub it vigorously together for at least 5-10 seconds. ^{[6] X Research Source}

If you don’t have a roll of wool, you can rub it into your hair or sweater/t-shirt.

Hold the balloon near an empty soda can to check. Place the soda can horizontally on a flat surface, then bring the balloon closer without touching the can. If the can starts to roll away from the balloon, the balloon has electricity. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

You can also test the conductivity by holding the ball close to your hair. If your hair rises and hits the balloon, you’ve created static electricity.
You can also leave the balloon on a nearby wall (this experiment is easier to do in the winter and in a dry climate). You should note the surface used to scrub the balloon, the number of times it has to be scrubbed, and how long the balloon can stay on the wall.

Rub the balloon against the metal object to discharge all the electricity. Metal is a very good conductor of electricity, so it can conduct all electricity from a balloon. Just like you would with a spool of wool, rub the metal object against the balloon for about 5-10 seconds. Then you can repeat this experiment. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Fabrication of electrostatic testing equipment

Poke 2 holes in a styrofoam cup and push the straw through the hole. Pierce the pencil or skewer through 2 places at the bottom of the styrofoam cup. The two holes should be as far apart as they are from the mouth of the cup. Insert the plastic straw through the two holes so that part of the tube sticks out. ^{[9] X Trusted Source Science Buddies Go to Source}

Use caution when working with sharp objects such as skewers.

Stick 4 small clay balls on the rim of the cup, then place the cup on the baking pan. Use your fingers to roll 4 small clay balls about 1.5cm long and wide and attach them to the rim of the cup with equal distances. Then, turn the cup upside down and place it in the center of the aluminum baking pan. ^{[10] X Research Source}

After placing the cup on the pan, the straw will now be on top.

Cut a thread and tie it to a 2.5cm square aluminum foil. Cut a square aluminum foil with a side of 2.5cm. Then, cut a thread about 2-3 times the distance from the straw to the edge of the pan. Roll the aluminum foil around the end of the round member thread. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Glue the other end of the thread to the straw. Thread the thread to both ends of the straw protruding from the cup. Apply tape to the end of the thread to keep it in place, then adjust the straw so that the hanging aluminum foil is almost touching the edge of the pan. ^{[12] X Research Source}

If the thread is too long and doesn’t hang in the air, cut it to the required size.

Test the electrostatic tester by placing it next to a charged balloon. Charge the balloon by rubbing it into your hair or fur and placing it on the table. Place the device next to the balloon. If the balloon is energized, the aluminum foil will move away from the balloon. ^{[13] X Research Source}

Steps

Generate static electricity with socks and mats

Rub the balloon against the wool to create static electricity

Fabrication of electrostatic testing equipment

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