Fun Fly Stick - Physics Demonstrations - Fun Fly Stick | Physics Undergraduate Labs

Purpose

Demonstrates electrostatic charge transfer and Coulomb repulsion using a battery-operated wand that levitates lightweight foil figures. Students see that like charges repel with enough force to overcome gravity.

Blue Fun Fly Stick wand with instruction box and transparent foil figures on gray surface

Hand holding blue Fun Fly Stick wand vertically with metallic foil figure levitating above the tip in front of a whiteboard

Hand holding a white rod vertically with metallic foil figure levitating above it in front of a whiteboard

Figure 1: Fun Fly Stick wand with packaging and foil figures. Press the button to generate positive charge at the tip.

Figure 2: Charged foil figure levitating above the wand. Coulomb repulsion between like charges balances gravity.

Figure 3: Foil figure levitated using a charged rod. The figures can also be charged and driven with a Teflon rod instead of the wand.

Mysto Plane

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