Crazy Water

Does a stream of water from a faucet always go straight down? You might think so, but you can demonstrate that it is not always true.

MATERIALS: A faucet with a slow, steady stream; a hard rubber comb, a piece of wool or fur

HOW TO DO IT: Adjust the faucet for a slow, steady, stream. Rub a wool on the comb briskly several times(if no wool is available, try combing it to a friend with a long hair briskly.) Then hold the comb near (but not touching) the stream of water a few cm. from the faucet. the stream of water should be bent slightly toward the comb.

Rubbing the comb with the wool or fur or combing it to a hair attracts extra electrons from the wool onto the comb. The fur or wool becomes positively charged, and the comb takes on a negative charge. The comb's negative charge attracts positive charges in the water molecules.

NOTE: Experiments in static electricity work best when humidity is low and the air is dry.