Why does a balloon 'stick' to a wall when one has rubbed it on one's head?

When the balloon is rubbed on your head, it becomes electrostatically charged (this is because electrons are transfered to/from the balloon from/to your hair). When you bring the balloon, which now has an excess of positive or negative charge, towards the wall, the charges on the wall that are the same as the charge on the balloon (positive or negative) are repelled into the wall (because like charges repel). This leaves an overall oposite charge, to the charge on the balloon, on the wall. Since oposite charges attract, the balloon is attracted to the wall and 'sticks' to it.

RH
Answered by Ryan H. Physics tutor

27735 Views

See similar Physics GCSE tutors

Related Physics GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Explain how red-shift provides evidence for the Big Bang theory.


What is the difference between nuclear fusion and fission?


The teacher quickly inverts the can containing boiling water into a bowl of cold water, as shown in the diagram. When the can is inverted in the cold water, the can collapses. Use ideas about particles and pressure to explain why the can collapses.


Why do rays of light change direction as they pass from air to a glass block?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning