Why does rubbing a balloon on your hair make it stick to the wall?
Winter/dry-day static: the zap when you pull off a sweater or touch a doorknob, hair standing up from a hat — same invisible charge, and it works better in dry winter air (already in the FAQ). Rainy/humid summer day = the trick fizzles.
Talk about it
- Guess first: do you think more rubbing makes a stronger pull, or does it stop helping after a while?
- The balloon never gets sticky like glue — so what do you think is really holding it on the wall?
- Why might this trick fizzle on a rainy day but work great in dry winter air?