Static Electricity
The lesson plans below include links to the specific resources on our website.
Teacher Guides for labs can be found
here.
NOTE: All CalcPad problem sets are customized problem sets created specifically for this course. The links direct users to the Guest version. Task Tracker users should use the link on the Task Tracker page to the trackable CalcPad version.
Day 1 of Static Electricity
Lesson Plan
- Introduce Unit; discuss Charge
The atom; proton, electron, and neutron (charge and location of each); p+s are tightly bound; e-s can be added and removed from an atom; balanced vs. unbalanced charge; calculating Q (quantity of charge) of an object
- Pair Practice: Charge Think Sheet
- Lab 1: Action at a Distance
Homework/Announcements
- Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Static Electricity: Lesson 1, Parts a and b
- Concept Builder: Charge and Charging
Day 2 of Static Electricity
Lesson Plan
- Discuss Charge Interactions; demonstrations (balloons), relate to Lab 1 findings; use Charge Interactions Think Sheet
- Discuss Triboelectric Charging
Method, result, explanation in terms of e- movement; relative e- affinity; demonstrations
- Lab 2: Sticky Tape Experiments
Homework/Announcements
- Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Static Electricity: Lesson 1, Part c
- Concept Builder: Getting the Hang of Charge
Day 3 of Static Electricity
Lesson Plan
- Review triboelectric charging; post-lab Lab 2
- Pair Practice: Triboelectric Charging Think Sheet
- Physics Interactives: Aluminum Can Polarization with Student Activity Sheet
Do and process; follow up with a Concept Checker
Homework/Announcements
- Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Static Electricity: Lesson 2, Part a
- Concept Builder: Triboelectric Charging
Day 4 of Static Electricity
Lesson Plan
- Discuss insulators, conductors, polarization; review Aluminum Can Polarization
- Pair Practice: Insulators, Conductors, and Polarization Think Sheet
- Concept Builder: Conductors and Insulators
- Concept Builder: Polarization
Homework/Announcements
- Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Static Electricity: Lesson 1, Parts d and e
- Complete any unfinished in-class work
Day 5 of Static Electricity
Lesson Plan
- Discuss Charging by Conduction
Method, result, explanation in terms of e- movement; demonstrations
- Discuss Grounding
Method, result, explanation in terms of e- movement; demonstrations
- Pair Practice: Charging by Conduction and Grounding Think Sheet
- If time allows, start Minds On Physics: Mission SE4 on Charging by Contact and the Grounding
Homework/Announcements
- Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Static Electricity: Lesson 2, Parts c and d
- Minds On Physics: Mission SE4 on Charging by Contact and the Grounding Process
Day 6 of Static Electricity
Lesson Plan
- Lab 3: Pop Can Induction
- Post-lab and discuss charging by induction
Method, result, explanation in terms of e- movement; demonstrations
- Pair Practice: Charging by Induction Think Sheet
Homework/Announcements
- Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Static Electricity: Lesson 2, Part b
- Minds On Physics: Mission SE5 on Charging by Induction - Pop Can Induction
Day 7 of Static Electricity
Lesson Plan
- Review Charging by Induction; more demonstrations/discussion
- Lab 4: Charging by Induction
Do and post-lab
- Physics Interactives: Charging
Use Student Activity Sheet and follow it up with the Concept Checker
Homework/Announcements
- Minds On Physics: Mission SE6 on Charging by Induction - Single Sphere
- Minds On Physics: Mission SE7 on Charging by Induction - Electrophorus Plate
Day 8 of Static Electricity
Lesson Plan
- Physics Interactives: Coulomb's Law
Use Student Activity Sheet and follow up with the Concept Checker
- Review all three charging methods: triboelectric charging ("friction"), conduction, induction
- Physics Interactives: Name That Charge
Homework/Announcements
- Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Static Electricity: Lesson 3, Parts a, b, and c
- If not done in class, complete Concept Checker and/or Name That Charge
Day 9 of Static Electricity
Lesson Plan
- Review Coulomb's Law: charge interactions; action at a distance; equation, proportionalities, proportionality constant (k)
- Pair Practice: problems #1-10 from Coulomb's Law Think Sheet
- Guided Practice: #11-15 of Coulomb's Law Think Sheet (selected Qs)
- Concept Builder: Coulomb's Law
Homework/Announcements
- Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Static Electricity: Lesson 3, Part d
- CalcPad: Static Electricity 1 on Coulomb's Law
Day 10 of Static Electricity
Lesson Plan
- Discuss Electric Field Strength (E)
Action at a distance, variables affecting E; equations; units, test charge vs. source charge
- Pair Practice: Electric Field Think Sheet
- Concept Builder: Electric Field Intensity
- If time allows: Physics Interactives: Electric Field Hockey (with built-in Task Tracking)
Homework/Announcements
- Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Static Electricity: Lesson 4, Parts a and b
- CalcPad: Static Electricity 2 on Electric Field Strength
Day 11 of Static Electricity
Lesson Plan
- Example problems #1, 3, and #7 from E and F Problems Think Sheet
- Lab 5 - Coulomb's Law
- Concept Builder: Electric Field
Homework/Announcements
- CalcPad: Static Electricity 3 on Field and Force
- Concept Builder: Electric Field (if not completed in class)
Day 12 of Static Electricity
Lesson Plan
- Example problems from E and F Problems Think Sheet
- Physics Interactives: Electric Field Lines with Student Activity Sheet
Do and process
Homework/Announcements
- Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Static Electricity: Lesson 4, Part c
- CalcPad: Static Electricity 4 on Field and Force
Day 13 of Static Electricity
Lesson Plan
- Example problems from E and F Problems Think Sheet
- Review electric field lines
- Pair Practice: Electric Field Lines Think Sheet
- Minds On Physics: Mission SE12 on Electric Field Lines
Homework/Announcements
- CalcPad: Static Electricity 5 on Field and Force
Day 14 of Static Electricity
Lesson Plan
- Example problems from E and F Problems Think Sheet
- If time allows: Physics Interactives: Electric Field Hockey
- Review for Exam
Homework/Announcements
- Prepare for Tomorrow's Test
- Complete all unfinished work