Can you create light from movement? Physicists can, and you can too!
Energy cannot be created or destroyed, but it can be transferred and transformed! Find out how in this fun, simple experiment!
Materials:
A balloon, a FLUORESCENT light bulb, and your hair!
Time Estimated:
5 minutes
Directions:
Blow up the balloon and tie the end so no air can escape.
Find a dark room and rub the balloon on your hair.
Make sure the lights are turned off and let your eyes adjust to the darkness for a few seconds. After they have adjusted, move the balloon above the light bulb in circular motions without it touching the light bulb. Movement of the balloon is necessary for the light bulb to light up.
Watch the light bulb light up without being plugged in!
Think Like a Scientist:
Where did the energy come from to power the light bulb?
What real life machine uses this same scientific concept?
How It Works:
In this experiment, you learned how to transfer energy!
When the balloon is rubbed against your hair, the electrical charges that are present in your hair are transferred to the balloon. When these electrical charges interact with the charges in the light bulb, the charges transfer energy and cause the sparks of light that you see!
By doing this experiment, you are taking the energy of movement (also called kinetic energy) and transferring it into energy of light (also called radiant energy).
Energy cannot be created or destroyed— it can only be transferred and transformed.
This means you can move (aka transfer) energy from one place to another, and you can change (aka transform) the type of energy you have, BUT you cannot create new energy or destroy old energy. The same amount of energy always exists!
Isn’t it cool that you can change your movement energy into light energy? Physicists study these energy transformations and use them all of the time to create new machines like windmills!
Windmills transform movement energy from the wind into electrical energy that can power your house!
Do you want to be a physicist? Let us know in the comments below…
Looking for more fun at home STEM activities for your young scientist? Check out our workbook full of exciting science experiments and empowering activities!
