getting a charge out of science!

13
Getting a charge out of science! By Carla Bridges

Upload: coebridges

Post on 11-May-2015

287 views

Category:

Documents


4 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Getting A Charge Out Of Science!

Getting a charge out of science!

ByCarla Bridges

Page 2: Getting A Charge Out Of Science!

4.3.16 Investigate and describe that without touching them, material that has been electrically charged pulls all other materials and may either push or pull other charged material.

Taken from: http://www.indianastandardsresources.org/files/sci/sci_4_3_16.pdf

Science Standard

Page 3: Getting A Charge Out Of Science!

Students will be able to demonstrate that without touching them, charged materials may be pushed or pulled by material that has been electrically charged.

Purpose

Page 4: Getting A Charge Out Of Science!

For the teacher: 2 balloons 2 lengths of string 3 meters long Felt tip pen Adhesive tape Wool cloth

Materials

Page 5: Getting A Charge Out Of Science!

Inflate one balloon and hang it from the doorway about eye level with the students.

Write definitions of the following on the board. Discuss before putting the correct definition.

Pre-Activity Preparation

Page 6: Getting A Charge Out Of Science!

Static electricity- a stationary electric charge built on a insulating material.

Positive and negative charges Each atom is made of a nucleus which has a

positive electrical charge. Electrons move around the nucleus. They have a negative electric charge. ... The positive and negative charges cancel each other out.

Repel- to drive or force back. Attract- to draw by a physical force causing or

tending to cause to approach, adhere, or unite; pull .

Definitions

Page 7: Getting A Charge Out Of Science!

Ask students: “What is static electricity? Give examples of when you witnessed static electricity.” [Clothes that cling when coming

out of the dryer, etc.] Explain to students that almost all things carry a small electric charge and that objects and organisms carry two different kinds of electric charges − positive and negative. Tell students that if two objects are near each other and they have the same kind of charge, they will repel or move away from each other. However, if two objects are near each other and they have different kinds of charges, they will attract or move toward each other. 4. Ask students: “With this new information, can you think of a

time when you have seen this happen?”

Pre-Activity Discussion

Page 8: Getting A Charge Out Of Science!

1. Direct students’ attention toward the balloon you fastened.

2. Ask students: “Have you ever witnessed a balloon having static electricity?” Briefly discuss students’ responses.

3. Ask a volunteer to rub the face of the balloon with a wool cloth.

4. Ask students: “What is happening?” [The balloon should face the student and move toward him/her.]

Class Demonstration

Page 9: Getting A Charge Out Of Science!

Tell students that by rubbing wool cloth on the balloon, they are creating static electricity. Remind students that rubbing two

objects against each other creates friction. Tell students that the friction causes a static charge. (The friction causes a transfer of

electrons, which creates the charges.) Ask students: “Why is the balloon moving toward [insert

student’s name]?” Discuss how the student and the balloon are both

electrically charged but must have opposite charges, since the

balloon is attracted to him/her.

Activity Cont.

Page 10: Getting A Charge Out Of Science!

Ask a volunteer to inflate a second balloon and tie the balloon

with string. Hang the second balloon near the first balloon. Ask a volunteer to rub the balloon with wool cloth. (The

student may have to “recharge” the first balloon.) Tell students to stand back and observe the two balloons.

Ask: “What is happening?” (Students should observe the two balloons moving away or repelling each other.)

Ask students: “Why are the two balloons repelling each other?”

Discuss with students how the two balloons are repelling each other so they must be carrying the same kind of charge.

Activity Cont.

Page 11: Getting A Charge Out Of Science!

After the class has completed the activity, ask students:

What causes static electricity? Why did the first balloon move toward you? Why did the two balloons move away from

each other? How do you know when two objects carry the

same kind of charge? How do you know when two objects carry

opposite charges?

Questions for Review

Page 12: Getting A Charge Out Of Science!

Begin a class discussion of how society depends on electricity. Have students make a list on the chalkboard of ways they depend on electricity every day.

Have students write stories on what their lives would be like every day without electricity.

Language Arts Standard 4.2.4.

Connections