Electrostatic Floating Rings

A thin plastic ring made from a bag can float above a balloon using static electricity. When both the ring and balloon are rubbed with a cotton towel, they become negatively charged, and the resulting repulsive force between them causes the ring to levitate in the air.

1. Cut across a thin plastic bag a few centimeters (1–2 inches) below the opening to form a ring.
2. Inflate a balloon and tie it securely.
3. Rub the plastic ring with a cotton towel for about 30 seconds while holding it against a flat surface.
4. Rub the balloon with the same towel for about 30 seconds to charge it.
5. Hold the balloon in one hand and carefully place the plastic ring above it.
6. Observe how the ring floats above the balloon due to static repulsion.
7. If the ring or balloon touches something and discharges, recharge them by rubbing again and repeat.

Electrostatic floating Rings - Homemade Science with Bruce Yeany:

Levitating Ring - Static Charge Experiment - Emily's Science Lab:

📄 Flying static ring - Experiment Archive: https://www.experimentarchive.com/experiments/flying-static-ring/

• Try smaller or larger rings to see how size affects floating stability.
• Use balloons of different shapes (round or long) and compare the results.
• Replace the cotton towel with other fabrics such as wool, silk, or polyester to see which generates the strongest charge.
• Make a spider or octopus-shaped plastic piece and test how it floats.
• Create a paper ring instead of plastic and observe the difference in behavior.

• Avoid performing the experiment near sensitive electronics, as static discharge may affect them.
• Do not overinflate the balloon to prevent it from popping.
• Keep scissors and small plastic pieces away from very young children.

• Why does the ring float above the balloon? (Both objects have the same negative charge after rubbing, causing them to repel each other.)
• What happens if the ring touches the balloon? (They discharge, losing their static charge, and the ring falls.)
• Why do the balloon and ring become negatively charged? (Electrons transfer from the cotton towel to the plastic during rubbing.)
• Why does the ring sometimes stick to your fingers? (Your neutral fingers become polarized—electrons in your skin move away, leaving a positive surface that attracts the negatively charged ring.)
• How can you make the ring float for longer? (Ensure the air is dry—humidity allows charge to leak away more quickly.)