How It Works

Home science experiments: How to bend water

by · 20/03/2015

As part of our home science experiment series, we are showing you how to gets hands on with science to make learning more fun.

Read on to find out how you can bend water in your own kitchen!

Checklist:

  • Tap with running water
  • Comb
  • Hair

1  Charge the comb 

Rub the comb on your hair. This will transfer electrons onto the comb and negatively charge it. As you are grounded, electrons will come from the ground and balance you, but the comb remains full of negative charge.

2  Force of attraction

Start the water running at a very slow stream. The negatively charged comb repels some of the electrons in the water. This creates a positive charge in the stream so it is attracted towards the comb.

3  Coming together

This desire to transfer electrons pulls the positively charged water toward the comb when it’s nearby. The force that attracted the two together is called static electricity.

RS50875_Comb3-hpr

What you’ve learnt:

This quick and easy experiment teaches you how to manipulate a stream of water without even touching it. Hair doesn’t conduct electricity very well so every time you comb it, the static charge in increased. Once you’ve mastered bending water, make sure you take a photo and send it to us on Facebook and Twitter!

 

Find more fun projects to try at home with the How It Works Book of Science Experiments, available to order online or download onto your digital device.