Can you separate Salt and Pepper

Mixed powers like salt and pepper can seem impossible to separate, but this handy science experiment shows you just how to do the trick. We all know that everything is essentially made up of atoms. The atom is the smallest part of a substance that retains all the physical and chemical properties of the matter.

However the atom can also be broken into three smaller parts called the protons, electrons and neutrons. Of these the protons have a positive electrical charge while the electrons have a negative charge. The neutrons as the name suggests are neutral with no charge. The atom itself is supposed to have a balanced number of these sub parts so that it retains a largely neutral effect.

So how is this going to help us separate salt and pepper? Lets first sprinkle a spoon of salt on  a plate. Now add a spoon of pepper to it and mix it lightly till the salt and pepper are well mixed. Now get a comb and a woolen cloth. When you rub the comb on the cloth you will charge it negatively. Now hover the comb over the mixture and you will find the pepper particles dancing off the plate and sticking to the comb.

How did it happen? Salt and pepper are both positively charged and the negative charge of the comb attracts them both. However as the pepper particles are lighter they fly up higher and get separated from the mix. Follow up this interesting science experiment with one of your own.