This document provides instructions for conducting several electrostatics activities using common household items: building a pith ball apparatus using aluminum foil balls suspended from a drinking straw inside a styrofoam cup, demonstrating charge transfer using a meter stick or ruler and a swinging pencil attached by string, and constructing a simple electroscope to detect charge using foil, tape, and a plastic cup or plate. The activities are designed to explore electrostatic principles in a hands-on way.

1. Electrostatics Activities:
You will need several household items.
An 8 ounce glass or larger
Aluminum foil
One styrofoam plate
One aluminum foil plate
Scotch tape
Paper clip
An item made of silk or wool or even polyester
Balloon
A drinking straw
A styrofoam cup
Thread

2. This image is what you will build in the pie pan pith balls.
Use balled up aluminum foil for the pith ball.
Foam
cup
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Aluminum Plate Aluminum ball

3. Dowel Rod and Charge Activity.
For this activity you will need a meter stick or ruler or something that is
a long straight edge. You will also need a string and a pencil. Tie the string
around the pencil at both ends and hang the pencil over the ruler so that the
pencil is free to swing. You can lay the meter stick or ruler on a table so that only
a little of it hangs over the edge.

4. Make your Own Electroscope.
Your electroscope will not look like this
one but if you follow the directions it
will be close.