Science+Fair+Review+of+Lit.

Lightning is dangerous but also beautiful at the same time. Lightning is five times hotter and stronger then the sun. This much heat is enough to power a 100 watt light-bulb for 3 months. Lightning is caused by an electrical charge that is unstable in the atmosphere. The average temperature of lightning is 20000 degrees C and 36000 degrees F. The study of lightning is called Fulminology and Astraphobia is the fear of thunder, lighting, storms, etc. Electricity is in everything, in everyone, and in all of us. We take electricity as granted, without it our nervous system wouldn't work and we would be very primitive from where we are now. A quote from Thomas Edison is "a mode of motions" and "a system of vibrations" which in a nutshell is basically what it is. (Background Information on Electricity)

Electricity is the motion of charged particles like electrons. In my experiment I used electricity in a small and safe manner. Electricity is one of the most widely used things in nature, it is one of the only "natural" substances that can be used as energy. An electric current is made when electrons are "lost" from an atom. The free moving of these electrons make up the current. Static electricity is made by friction, rubbing, etc. All matter contains positively charged and negatively charged particles (protons and electrons), these particles left unchanged is an atom, they balance each other out. If this atom has the same amount of protons and electrons it is neutral. Depending on the amount of protons and electrons makes it positive or negative. The more protons than electrons is positive, same way around for negative but more electrons equals negative. (Background Information for Electricity)

In my experiment w hen you rub the styro-foam plate with a wool cloth, you charge it negatively. This is because the styro-foam attracts electrons from the cloth. The plate fresh from the package will start with a positive charge. If it does then you will have to rub the plate long enough to disable this charge before you can begin building a big enough negative charge. Styrofoam is an insulator, it will hold its charge until it is discharged by current coming into the air or along a moisture film on the surface of the Styrofoam. (Charge and Carry: Electricity Science Project)


 * Works Cited **

"Background Information for Electricity." //Background Information for Electricity //. Canada Science and Technology Museum, n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2013. <[]>.

"Charge and Carry: Electricity Science Project | Exploratorium Science Snacks." //Exploratorium: The Museum of Science, Art and Human Perception //. Exploratorium, n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2013. <[]>.

 "Electricity." //HowStuffWorks //. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Oct. 2013. <[]>.

 "Foam Online - Custom Shaped Foam, Packaging Foam, Memory Foam, Bedding Foam and Other Foam Products." //Foam Online - Custom Shaped Foam, Packaging Foam, Memory Foam, Bedding Foam and Other Foam Products //. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Oct. 2013. <[]>