'Experiment: Lightning In A Pan' Physics Worksheet printable pdf download

'Experiment: Lightning In A Pan' Physics Worksheet

Name: ______________

Date: ______________

Block: ______________

Experiment: Lightning in a Pan

Background: Lightning is an electric current. Within a thundercloud way up in the

sky, many small bits of ice (frozen raindrops) bump into each other as they move

around in the air. All of those collisions create an electric charge. After a while,

the whole cloud fills up with electrical charges. The positive charges or protons

form at the top of the cloud and the negative charges or electrons form at the

bottom of the cloud. Since opposites attract, that causes a positive charge to build

up on the ground beneath the cloud. The grounds electrical charge concentrates

around anything that sticks up, such as mountains, people, or single trees. The

charge coming up from these points eventually connects with a charge reaching

down from the clouds and - zap - lightning strikes!

Question: How is lightning formed?

Materials and Methods:

• Aluminum pie plate

• pencil with eraser

• Thumb tack

• Wool sock

• Piece of styrofoam

Hypothesis: I think these materials will create lightning by

______________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________.

Procedure:

1. Push the thumb tack up through the center of the pie plate.

2. Push the end of the pencil (eraser side) onto the tack.

3. Rub the styrofoam quickly with the wool sock.

4. Pick up the aluminum pie plate with the pen and put it down on top of the

styrofoam. Be sure not to touch the pie plate with your hands.

5. Turn out the lights and slowly bring your finger close to the pie plate. You should

hear, feel, and see a tiny spark.

'Experiment: Lightning In A Pan' Physics Worksheet