Opposite charges attract
Two charges of the same kind push apart, and two opposite charges pull together. You set the charge on each ball and the distance between them, and watch the hanging ball lean.
Open the visualFree, no sign-up. Works on a phone, tablet, computer, or projector.
What to try
- 1Start with Left ball on Negative and Right ball on Positive. Push or pull reads Pull, and the hanging ball leans toward the other ball.
- 2Set Right ball to Negative. Two negatives push apart, so the hanging ball leans away.
- 3Set Distance to 3 cm. At half the distance, the force is four times as strong. At 12 cm, it is only a quarter as strong.
See something wrong? Tell us and we will check it against the code.
More visuals
- Valence electronsThe electrons in an atom's outer ring decide whether a material carries current. Try copper, silver, aluminum, silicon, and plastic.
- Inside an atomEverything is made of atoms. Count the protons in the center and the electrons around it, then take one electron away.
- What electricity isCurrent is electrons drifting along a wire. Look inside the copper and see how slowly they move, even though the lamp lights at once.