Physics 11–12 · Year 11
Charging by friction and induction: sticky tape, electroscope and the bending water stream (syllabus practical)
Module 4: Electricity and Magnetism (Electrostatics)
Teacher-led demonstration
A teacher carries out this activity as a demonstration. Its materials, steps, variables, misconceptions and sources are not published on the open web, and neither is any result, control or note that states a number or an amount: tutors and administrators read them on the learning platform, with the safety card first. The idea, the hazards and the curriculum references are below.
Open the procedure on the learning platform (tutor or administrator sign-in)
School laboratory, not for home
In a school laboratory, with a teacher supervising, under the school's risk assessment. Not for home.
This site has no interactive model of its own. Where a step or a material names a Concept Studio model, simulation or tool, it has not been built; an external simulation a step names (for example PhET) is not part of this site.
The idea
Rubbing transfers electrons between surfaces, like charges repel, unlike charges attract, and a charged object attracts a neutral one by polarising it.
Safety card
Setting: In a school laboratory, with a teacher supervising, under the school's risk assessment. Not for home.
Hazards
- Van de Graaff sparks: startling, and unsafe for people with pacemakers or insulin pumps
- wet floor near the tap
Controls
At least one of them states a number or an amount, which may be part of the method, so the controls are shown with the method to tutors and administrators on the learning platform.
Note
Follow Science ASSIST SOP Demonstrating the Van de Graaff generator (https://asta.edu.au/resource/sop-demonstrating-the-van-de-graaff-generator/) and record in RiskAssess (https://www.riskassess.com.au/).
What you should see
It states a number or an amount, which may be part of the method, so it is shown with the method to tutors and administrators on the learning platform.
Curriculum references
The NSW syllabus outcomes and Australian Curriculum v9 codes this activity supports. They are references, not a verified or complete curriculum alignment.
- Physics Stage 6 Syllabus (2017), current: Year 11 until the end of 2026, Year 12 until Term 3 2027PH11-11PH11/12-1
- Physics 11-12 Syllabus (2025), not yet taught: Year 11 from Term 1 2027, Year 12 from Term 4 2027, first HSC examination 2028PY-11-03PY-11WS-01
- Australian Curriculum v9No Australian Curriculum v9 code is listed.