Daniel Sullivan will lead the participants through a series of physics demonstration interspaced with “do-it-yourself” experiments that you can complete while you watch.  The DIY experiments are designed to be safe and appropriate for youth of all ages with parental supervision. The demonstrations use equipment that is not available in the home. The combination makes this an engaging and interactive lab.

Electrostatics

The demonstrations will include:

• Van der Graaff Generator
• Plasma Tube.

The “Do-it-yourself” experiments will include:

• Curious rolling can
• Jumping static box
• Franklins Bell
• Floating Halo’s

In this STEAMfest exclusive DIY live science lab with MEL Science you will be able to:

• Tiptoe into the wonderful world of perhaps the most important particle in physics – the electron. Find out where they go, what they do, and how they do it.
• Understand the science behind each of the experiments
• Be able to ask questions

We highly recommend that you be prepared to do the DIY experiments.  Here’s what you’ll need for all four DIY experiments:

Use the equipment lists below if you would like to have everything organized for each individual DIY experiment.

For DIY 1, you will need the following:

• Empty and completely dry aluminum drinks can (1)
• Large flat smooth surface (kitchen table – ideally wooden)
• Large party balloons (2)
• (Ideally) real fur item of clothing like gloves / scarf or piece of wool / silk / pure nylon approx. 50cm x 50 cm (does not need to be cut down to this size)

For DIY 2, you will need the following:

• Cardboard box base, approx. 45cm x 30cm x 4cm
• Polycarbonate or acrylic sheet to cover box
• Selection of small different sized Styrofoam balls
• Roll of aluminum foil
• Candy wrapping aluminum foil (4 pieces)
• (Ideally) real fur item of clothing like gloves / scarf or piece of wool / silk /pure nylon
  approx. 50cm x 50 cm (does not need to be cut down to this size)

For DIY 3, you will need the following:

• Empty and completely dry aluminum drinks cans (2)
• Polycarbonate or acrylic sheet (you can use the same as above)
• Darning thread (30 cm)
• Plastic straw
• PVC tubing (45 cm)
• (Ideally) real fur item of clothing like gloves / scarf or piece of wool / silk / pure nylon
  approx. 50cm x 50 cm (does not need to be cut down to this size)

For DIY 4, you will need the following:

• Large party balloons (3)
• Cheap thin LDPE shopping bag
• Scissors
• (Ideally) real fur item of clothing like gloves / scarf or piece of wool / silk / pure nylon
  approx. 50cm x 50 cm (does not need to be cut down to this size)

If there’s something you don’t have, that’s ok, you can do all the other experiments with the materials that you have available.

Related MEL Science Experiments & Videos

• MEL Physics – Electrostatic Levitation experiment
• MEL Physics – Electrostatic Dance experiment
• Ion racing
• Electroscopes how to find an electric charge
• SPOOKtacular dancing
• Static electricity and a balloon
• Fun tricks using a balloon and static electricity

Daniel Sullivan

This lesson is presented by Daniel Sullivan. Dan is a hugely enthusiastic and experienced ex-head of science with over 20 years of teaching experience, running science departments in which he delighted in introducing truly exciting, inspiring practical science lessons that made learning and the voyage of discovery of the natural world a joy to experience. He is a hugely passionate scientist whose singular aim is to instill in his students a love of science, a fascination with the universe, and a lifelong habit of challenging all types of ‘received wisdom’! All of this is of course done with a sense of mischievousness and fun!