Sunday, January 13, 2008

Snap, Crackle, Pop!


No I'm not eating rice krispies, although rice krispie treats do sound good right now (although too sugary). Actually, as I was sitting trying to do my homework and watch TV at the same time, my mom was being very nice; she was folding my clean laundry, strait out of the dryer. Although I am very grateful as I know how long that takes, I don't usually pay attention unless I'm helping or I need to monitor the dryer so that my already-too-small-in-the-arms tops don't stay in too long. But as I was drawing polar coordinate graphs, I heard something very familiar: "rackle crackle crackle." I knew immediately what it was: it was my mom unsticking clothes from each other, held together by static electricity. But today, this sound was different, for I had read the assignment on electric charge, and I knew exactly what was going on. When the clothes had been tumbling around in the dryer, the electrons in the outer parts of these items would rub off, being transfered to the objects on which they were rubbing, such as the walls of the dryer, or other clothes. In this case, these two objects built up enough opposite charge to attract each other, since opposites attract. The forces that each exerts on the other are equal and opposite, as well as strong enough to hold them together. When my mom tried to pull them apart, the electrostatic forces fought back, keeping the items clinging together, even to the last clinging fibers which still point directly towards the other object. However, I believe the crackling sound has something to do with returning the charge to equilibrium, but I would have to read more. Oh also, just as a warning: if any of you ever go to some place dry,(my experience is from Alaska) don't drag your feet along the carpet, and don't go touching metal objects that may be touching the ground, because you almost certainly WILL get shocked. You should have seen the spark my dad created(it was blue).

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