Navigation
Understanding what happens when static electricity jumps from one thing to another.
Have you ever walked across a rug in your favorite fuzzy socks and felt a sudden 'zap' when you touched a doorknob? That tiny spark is actually a miniature version of a giant lightning bolt!
Everything is made of tiny pieces of energy called charges. Usually, these charges are balanced. But when you rub two things together—like your socks on a carpet—you 'steal' extra charges. These charges build up on your body. This is called static electricity. These charges are looking for a way to move! When you touch something metal, like a doorknob, all those extra charges jump off your finger at once. That jump creates the tiny spark and the 'pop' sound you feel and hear.
1. Take rubber balloon and rub it against your hair for seconds. 2. Slowly pull the balloon away. 3. Your hair will reach out to touch the balloon! This happens because the charges on your hair and the balloon are attracted to each other like magnets.
Quick Check
What is the name for the buildup of extra charges on an object?
Answer
Static electricity.
If a doorknob shock is a tiny spark, lightning is a monster-sized spark! Inside a dark storm cloud, bits of ice and rain bump into each other as they swirl around. This rubbing creates a massive amount of static electricity. Eventually, the cloud can't hold any more charge. The energy needs to 'jump' just like it did from your finger. It shoots through the air to the ground or another cloud, creating a flash that is times hotter than the surface of the sun!
Think about the difference in size: 1. A doorknob spark might jump only centimeter. 2. A lightning bolt can be over kilometers long! 3. Even though one is small and one is huge, they are both caused by the same 'jumping' charges.
Quick Check
How is lightning similar to the shock you get from a doorknob?
Answer
They are both caused by static electricity jumping from one place to another.
Because lightning is so powerful, we must respect it. Electricity always looks for the fastest way to get to the ground. It likes to hit tall objects like trees or poles. It also travels easily through water and metal. To stay safe, remember this rule: 'When thunder roars, go indoors!' Thunder is the sound made by the lightning's heat, so if you hear it, the 'giant spark' is close enough to be dangerous.
Imagine you are at the park and see dark clouds. 1. You hear a faint rumble of thunder. 2. You should immediately stop playing and find a sturdy building or a car. 3. Do NOT hide under a tall tree, as the lightning is more likely to hit the highest point.
What causes the 'zap' when you touch a metal doorknob?
Where does the static electricity in a lightning storm come from?
It is safe to stand under a tall tree during a lightning storm.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to explain to a friend why your hair sometimes sticks to a winter hat using the words 'charges' and 'jump'.
Practice Activity
Next time you are in a dark room, try rubbing a balloon on a wool sweater and touching a metal object to see if you can see the tiny flash of light!