Charged Competition Helps 5th Graders Learn Science
Adam Sherland's Grade 5 students learned about the power of static electricity in aluminum can races in Inman Gym.
Sherland describes the science behind the races:
"In this project, students used their knowledge of static electricity to compete in can races. At the start of the race, students quickly rub their head against a balloon which gives the balloon a negative charge from the extra electrons. The can on the ground has a more positive charge than the negatively charged balloon and, therefore, is attracted to the balloon since opposite charges attract. The can continues to roll as the students move their balloon down the course. Students competed in tournaments in their homerooms until we had one champion from each class. Then the five class champions met in the gym for the two-round championship race in front of the whole grade. It was a fun culmination to this unit and let the students apply what they had learned in a hands-on way."
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"In this project, students used their knowledge of static electricity to compete in can races. At the start of the race, students quickly rub their head against a balloon which gives the balloon a negative charge from the extra electrons. The can on the ground has a more positive charge than the negatively charged balloon and, therefore, is attracted to the balloon since opposite charges attract. The can continues to roll as the students move their balloon down the course. Students competed in tournaments in their homerooms until we had one champion from each class. Then the five class champions met in the gym for the two-round championship race in front of the whole grade. It was a fun culmination to this unit and let the students apply what they had learned in a hands-on way."
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Ensworth is a coeducational, kindergarten through twelfth grade, independent day school.