Science Common Sense

1351 - What is the relationship between friction, static electricity, and positive and negative charges?

Imagine when you rub a balloon on your hair. What happens? The balloon sticks to you or to the wall. This is because friction (the rubbing) creates static electricity.

When two things rub together, they can swap tiny particles called electrons. If one thing gains extra electrons, it becomes negatively charged. If the other thing loses electrons, it becomes positively charged.

Like charges (positive-positive or negative-negative) push each other away, but opposite charges (positive-negative) attract each other. This is why the balloon sticks to you or the wall.

So, to sum it up:

• Friction (rubbing) creates static electricity.
• Static electricity is the result of swapping electrons between two objects.
• Positive and negative charges are created when electrons are gained or lost.
• Opposite charges attract each other, while like charges push each other away.