When you pull the balloon back and then let it go, it moves back toward the sweater and may stick to it. This occurrence can be explained by the principles of static electricity and electrostatic attraction.
Here's what's happening in detail:
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Electrostatic Charge: When you rub the balloon against the sweater, electrons are transferred from one material to the other, causing the balloon to become negatively charged and the sweater to become positively charged (or vice versa, depending on the materials).
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Attraction: When you pull the balloon away from the sweater, it retains its charge. Upon releasing it, the balloon is attracted back to the sweater due to the opposite charges – the negatively charged balloon is attracted to the positively charged areas of the sweater.
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Static Electricity: This entire process is a demonstration of static electricity, which is the result of an imbalance of electric charges within or on the surface of a material.
In summary, this phenomenon showcases the principles of static electricity and is a classic example of how charged objects can attract each other due to their opposite charges.