Why does a rubbed balloon stick to the wall?
The rubber ballon acquires a negative charge when rubbed. (I takes electrons away from the rubbing material).
The negative charge of the ballon induces a positive charge on the ceiling surface, even if there is zero electrical conductivity there. The induced charge can be due to surface polarization. If the ceiing has small nonzero conductivity but is not grounded, some ceiling electrons will be repelled by the ballon. Either way, an attraction force will exist between ceiing and balloon.
wrench falls out of the gondola of a balloon
that is 540 m above the ocean.
Assuming negligible air resistance, what
was the wrench’s speed as it hit the water?
The acceleration of gravity is 9.8 m/s
2
.
Answer in units of m/s
A rubbed balloon sticks to the wall due to a phenomenon called static electricity. When you rub a balloon against your hair or a piece of fabric, it becomes electrically charged. This rubbing action transfers electrons from your hair or the fabric onto the balloon's surface, causing the balloon to become negatively charged (-).
When the negatively charged balloon is brought close to a wall or any other surface, it induces a positive charge (+) on the surface of the wall. This happens because the negatively charged balloon repels the electrons in the wall, leaving behind positively charged atoms or molecules.
Opposite charges attract, therefore the negatively charged balloon is attracted to the positively charged wall. The electrostatic force between the balloon and the wall is strong enough to overcome the force of gravity, causing the balloon to stick to the wall.
To experiment and observe this phenomenon yourself, you can follow these steps:
1. Inflate a balloon and tie it at the end to maintain its air-filled shape.
2. Rub the balloon against your hair or a piece of fabric for about 10-20 seconds to transfer charge onto it.
3. Slowly bring the rubbed balloon close to a wall or another smooth surface.
4. Observe how the balloon sticks to the surface, defying gravity.
Remember, the effectiveness of the static charge might depend on factors such as humidity or the surface material of the wall. So, you may need to experiment with different surfaces and conditions to observe the best effect.