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Electricity Science Fair Project

Detecting Static Electricity

Hard
Detecting Static Electricity | Science Fair Projects | STEM Projects
Have you ever wondered how to detect static electricity? This project will show you how to build an electroscope that can detect static electricity from far away.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis is that a simple circuit can detect the invisible fields of voltage which surround all electrified objects.

Method & Materials

You will build a circuit with a 9-volt battery, a transistor, and an LED. You will then test the circuit by charging up a pen or comb and waving it close to the antenna wire.
You will need a 9-volt battery, a transistor, an LED, a battery connector, alligator clip leads, plastic, fur, foil, comb, tape dispenser, and a plastic cup.

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Results

This project shows that a simple circuit can detect the invisible fields of voltage which surround all electrified objects. It is possible to detect one volt of static electricity from a distance of five meters or more.

Why do this project?

This science project is so interesting and unique because it shows how to build an electroscope that can detect static electricity from far away.

Also Consider

Experiment variations to consider include testing the circuit on a low-humidity day and building a capacitor out of aluminum foil, styrofoam, and wires.

Full project details

Additional information and source material for this project are available below.

Related video

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