The electrical force is so pervasive that it is difficult to name many aspects of the physical world not affected by it. At the most fundamental level, the attractive electrical force between electrons and protons holds atoms together. On a bit larger scale, electrical interactions between atoms are responsible for the formation of molecules. On a much grander scale, a rapid discharge of atmospheric electricity manifests itself as a flash of lightning. All these phenomena are governed by the same basic principles.
Though every student has had direct experience with static charges (who hasn’t been zapped after walking across a carpet?), few understand the mechanisms underlying electrostatic phenomena. The collection of activities that follow are designed to spark interest in learning about electricity.