A charged balloon is a balloon that has gained an electric charge through a process called static electricity. This usually happens when the balloon is rubbed against a material like hair or wool, causing electrons to transfer from one surface to another. As a result, the balloon can attract small objects, such as paper or dust, due to the electric forces at play. When a balloon is charged, it can also repel or attract other charged objects. For example, if two balloons are both negatively charged, they will push away from each other. Conversely, a negatively charged balloon will attract a positively charged object, like a wall after being rubbed. This behavior illustrates the basic principles of electric charge and static electricity.