Bend Water
Make a flowing water stream bend using static electricity from a rubbed plastic comb or balloon; test effects safely with a faucet and dry hair.
Step-by-step guide to bend water with static electricity
Step 1
Pick a plastic comb or a balloon.
Step 2
If you chose a balloon blow it up and tie it closed.
Step 3
Grab a towel and place it within reach.
Step 4
Stand next to a sink with a faucet.
Step 5
Turn the faucet on so a thin steady stream flows about the width of a pencil.
Step 6
Make sure your hair or the wool cloth is completely dry.
Step 7
Rub the comb or the balloon briskly on your dry hair or wool cloth for 20 to 30 seconds.
Step 8
Hold the rubbed comb or balloon a few centimeters from the thin water stream without touching the water.
Step 9
Slowly move the comb or balloon closer and watch the water bend toward it.
Step 10
Move the comb or balloon to different sides of the stream to see how the bending changes.
Step 11
If the bending fades rub the comb or balloon again on your dry hair or cloth for 20 to 30 seconds.
Step 12
Dry your hands with the towel.
Step 13
Put the comb or balloon away.
Step 14
Share a photo or description of your bending water experiment on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use instead of a plastic comb or balloon if we can't find one?
If you don't have a plastic comb or balloon, use a plastic ruler, the hard edge of a plastic hairbrush, or rub an inflated latex glove on your dry hair or wool cloth to build static for step 6.
Why isn't the water bending and how can we fix it?
If the water won't bend, check that the faucet is a thin pencil-width stream (step 4), your hair or wool cloth is completely dry (step 5), you rubbed the comb/balloon vigorously for the full 20–30 seconds (step 6), and you hold it a few centimeters away without touching the water (step 8).
How can we adapt this activity for younger or older kids?
For preschoolers, have an adult control the faucet and hold the rubbed comb or balloon while the child watches the bending, shortening the rub to 10–15 seconds (steps 4–8); for older kids, let them time the 20–30 second rub, measure how many centimeters the stream bends, and compare comb versus balloon and different fabrics (steps 6, 9).
How can we make the experiment more interesting or personal?
To extend the activity, test and record results using different materials (plastic comb, balloon, wool cloth), vary rubbing time in 5-second increments, photograph the bending to share on DIY.org, and explain why static electricity causes the water to move (steps 1, 6, 13).
Watch videos on how to bend water with static electricity
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Facts about static electricity
⚡ Rubbing a plastic comb or balloon can create thousands of volts of static electricity — tiny current, big voltage!
🎈 A balloon rubbed on hair can hold its charge long enough to stick to walls or move lightweight objects.
🧪 Scientists like Benjamin Franklin helped study electricity centuries ago, but anyone can safely explore static with simple materials.
🌬️ Static shocks and bending-water tricks are stronger in dry winter air because moisture lets charge leak away.
💧 Water molecules are polar, so a charged object can pull a thin stream of water and make it bend.
How do you bend a water stream with a comb or balloon?
What materials do I need to make water bend with static electricity?
What ages is the static water-bending activity suitable for?
Is this water-bending experiment safe and what are the benefits or variations?
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