Date: Tue, 25 Feb 1997 15:34:54 -0500 (EST)
Message-Id: <v01540b01af38affdfe7d@[206.119.196.9]>
To: pinhole@exploratorium.edu
From: kdubyou@tiac.net (Karen Wallingford)
Subject: static forces
Couple (could be more!!) questions:
1) Why/how is it that plastic is such a good material for generating static
AND at the same time good for insulating electrical wires? Why does it
collect the forces so well, and why if I can feel and see the static, why
not the electricity through insultated wires as well?
2) Can static electricity with a charge card, ie rubbing it to induce
static also destroy its magnetic charge?
3) When hair is standing up with a static charge, is it "on end" because it
is attracted to some positive charges in the air?
4) Does a balloon charged with static electricity forces attract only those
particles that are polar enough or small enough to react? So the static
actually attracts the more positively charged "side" of the salt crystal?
But pepper? Polar? Why not sugar?
All for now! Thank you, Karen W.