Static Electricity
Lesson on static electricity. Predominantly practical and inquiry based, focuses on the key elements of static electricity while advancing practical skills.
Van de Graaff Generator
Starter demonstration.
Following on from static electricity discussion with a demonstration of a van de graaff generator. Two student volunteers can be used for this. After this brief explanation of what is happening and the scientific basis behind static electricity. This video can be used (however we would much prefer making the lesson as organic as possible and explaining this ourselves).
Electricity (Book 9) and Magnetism (Book 10)
Main portion of lesson and plenary.
Use the static electricity practical in this book. Static using balloons and different materials to check for electricity. Also using the practical relating to rods made of different materials and how they effect water. Examples of materials : polythene rods, wood, different things to charge them with. After the experiment students would create or fill in (depending on the ability level) a table commenting on results.
After this question and answer consolidating the key information learned, and quick group discussion on how static electricity could be dangerous (stretch and challenge).
Lesson beginning.
Use right at the start, just to get the students thinking about why this happens. Ask 'if this has ever happened to anybody' and get them thinking about what might make it happen more frequently, I.e. Clothing, the flooring. After this discussion (5 minutes) go through aims and objectives.
Homework
Quiz ten mark quiz which goes over all the key information from the lesson. Also the students will follow on from plenary discussion and find out about dangers of static electricity.