Styrofoam plateStyrofoam cupPiece of wool cloth(wool works the best but you can try other fabrics too)Aluminum muffin tinScotch tape

When you rub the styrofoam plate with a wool cloth, you charge it up! The Styrofoam attracts the electrons from the cloth due to friction when the two are rubbed together. The electrons cannot leave the muffin tin because it is com-pletely surrounded by insulating air and Styro-foam. If you touch the muffin tin while it is near the Styrofoam, the moving electrons will be “pushed” off the pan and onto you causing you to feel a little shock, hear a snapping sound and maybe even see a spark of electricity.Explosions can be the result of faulty wiring that leads to the production of a spark that can ignite gases or flammable materials.

Try rubbing the plate with other materials such as cotton, silk or plastic.

Does it change the result?

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Long Island

Rub the Styrofoam plate with the wool cloth for a full minute.

Test if your plate is charged by placing it on the wall. It is charged if it sticks!

Rub the plate to charge it some more and then place it upside down on a table. Tape the Styrofoam

cup to the middle of the aluminum muffin tin to make a handle.

Hold the cup and place the muffin tin on top of the charged Styrofoam plate.

Bring your finger near the muffin tin and you will feel a little shock and hear a “snap.” If the room is dark, you see a little spark.

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