How to Make a Spark

Here are two easy and safe science experiments teachers can perform with their students or parents can use as educational rainy-day fun. One involves static electricity while the other involves a phenomenon called triboluminescence, and both make sparks. Read on for instructions.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Dark, carpeted room
• Metal object
• Wint-O-Green Life Savers
• Dark room

Perform a Shocking Scientific Experiment

1. Try this science experiment in a carpeted room. Turn off all lights, close blinds and draw shades to make the room as pitch-dark as possible.
2. Ask the kids to drag their feet across the carpet. The more shuffling steps, the bigger the spark.
3. Have the kids slowly and carefully touch a metal object like a doorknob. If they watch closely, they'll see the sparks.
4. Explain static electricity to the kids. The website Science Made Simple has a clear, detailed explanation of static electricity (see Resources).

Confirm an Urban Legend

5. Buy a package of Wint-O-Green Life Savers candy.
6. Go into a darkened room--the darker the better. Block out as much light as possible.
7. Ask one of the kids to chew, with her mouth open, one of the candies. Have the other kids watch carefully to see the chewer make sparks.
8. Explain triboluminescence. The Straight Dope (see Resources) has a great explanation of triboluminescence.

Tips & Warnings

• If you've somehow never experienced it, a shock from static electricity hurts.