Science Smarts: Happy 50th, Science Fair!

By Patty Rooks on March 22, 2025.

I can hardly believe the 50th Anniversary of the Regional Science Fair is here! So many people have been working behind the scenes for months now to bring this wonderful event to the students in southeastern Alberta. I am fortunate to have the privilege of working with a wonderful Science Fair Committee as well as all of the teachers and most importantly the students.

I know if you make tome to come down to the College and see these projects, your breath will be taken away. I could go on and on, but I have preparations to get to, so… I have to make this a quick activity this week. Let’s get started!

*Remember to ask an adult before doing this experiment.

Materials

– Cornstarch

– Vegetable oil

– Mixing bowl

– Wooden spoon

– Balloon

– Measuring cup (50-60 mL)

– Science helper

Procedure

1. Measure and pour 60 mL (1/4 cup) of cornstarch into a mixing bowl.

2. Add the same amount of vegetable oil into the mixing bowl.

3. Using a strong wooden spoon, stir the mixture until it thickens. Set aside for a minute.

4. Blow up a balloon and tie it off.

5. You are going to have to charge the balloon. I like to do this by vigorously rubbing the balloon using your hair, shirt, or rug. (Personally, I prefer hair!)

6. Have your science helper lift a spoonful of the cornstarch mixture up high ABOVE the bowl. Place the charged balloon close to the spoonful of the cornstarch mixture.

7. Observe.

8. What is going on?

9. Once you witness the cornstarch jump towards the balloon, slowly move the balloon away. Repeat that as many times as you want!

10. Try the same thing with the balloon but this time only use a small amount of cornstarch (no vegetable oil).

11. Observe and describe any differences between the two experiments.

What is going on?

You probably guessed this by now, due to the vigorous rubbing of the balloon on your hair that we are investigating STATIC ELECTRICITY. When you rub the balloon on a coarse surface like your hair, you give the balloon additional electrons. These new electrons generate a negative static charge. Meanwhile the cornstarch mixture has a neutral charge. It is neither a solid or liquid it is a non-newtonian fluid. We will save that for another lesson!

When an object has a negative charge, it will repel the electrons of other objects and attract that object’s protons. When the neutrally charged object is light enough, like the dripping cornstarch in this case, the negatively charged object will attract the lighter object.

I hope to see you at Medicine Hat College today for the 50th anniversary of the Regional Science Fair. The Public is welcome to come at 1 p.m. to view the projects and we are hopeful to have the awards around 3 p.m.

Patty Rooks, senior scientific consultant PRAXIS, “Connecting Science To The Community.” Contact Praxis at praxis@praxismh.ca, http://www.praxismh.ca, Tweet or follow us @PraxisMedHat, or friend us on Facebook. Address: 12 826 11th Street SE, Medicine Hat, AB, T1A 1T7 Phone: 403-527-5365, email: praxis@praxismh.ca.

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