Ben Franklin's Electricity Party

An interactive exhibit featuring hands-on historical experiments with static electricity

  • Lead exhibit developer

  • Coordinator of prototyping and formative evaluation

  • Script writer for interpretive panels and interactive experiment labels

ben motion.jpg

What is Static Electricity?

Everything in the world is made up of tiny particles called atoms. Atoms contain two kinds of electrical charges—one is positive and one is negative.

The positive charges, called protons, are found at the center of the atom. Swirling around them is a cloud of negative charges, called electrons. Electrons have the unique ability to move between atoms.

Static electricity is what happens when electrons jump from atom to atom.

When electrons jump, we can see and feel the effects of their movement! Sometimes things push away from each other (repel) or pull together (attract). Sometimes things shock us when we touch them.

Static electricity happens so quickly it can be shocking and entertaining!