Writing a Scientific Abstract

Mr. Spotts 24 November, 2008 6D, 6E and 7A C.O.R.E.

Experimental Abstract Purpose The purpose of our experiment was to determine how much static electricity was generated by rubbing a balloon on four different objects. We were interested in this experiment because we encounter static electricity in everyday life but don’t know much about it. People who might benefit from this research include computer technicians, because static electricity can short-circuit computers.

Procedures First we set up our measuring device by holding a ruler vertically on the desk with a sheet of paper at its base. We poured 1 mL of pepper on the paper. We charged the balloon by rubbing it on one of the four objects (uniform shirt, hair, glass window and desktop), put the balloon by the ruler and lowered it until the pepper jumped up to the balloon. We recorded that distance and repeated the steps for the remaining three objects.

Conclusion Our observations showed that the balloon was charged with the most static electricity when rubbed on the uniform shirt. The mean distance the pepper jumped for the shirt was 6 cm, which was more than the other three objects. My hypothesis was rejected, because I thought the hair would make the most static electricity.