Electricity is a form of energy. Current electricity can be generated and transmitted through pathways. Some materials are capable of carrying electricity more effectively than other materials. Static electricity is a result of objects being electrically charged. Without touching them, materials that are electrically charged may either push or pull other charged materials.
Standard 4: Students will understand features of static and current electricity.
Objective 1: Describe the behavior of static electricity as observed in nature and everyday occurrences.
Objective 2: Analyze the behavior of current electricity.
Standard 4: Students will understand features of static and current electricity.
Objective 1: Describe the behavior of static electricity as observed in nature and everyday occurrences.
- List several occurrences of static electricity that happen in everyday life.
- Describe the relationship between static electricity and lightning.
- Describe the behavior of objects charged with static electricity in attracting or repelling without touching.
- Compare the amount of static charge produced by rubbing various materials together (e.g., rubbing fur on a glass rod produces a greater charge then rubbing the fur with a metal rod, the static charge produced when a balloon is rubbed on hair is greater than when a plastic bag is rubbed on hair).
- Investigate how various materials react differently to statically charged objects.
Objective 2: Analyze the behavior of current electricity.
- Draw and label the components of a complete electrical circuit that includes switches and loads (e.g., light bulb, bell, speaker, motor).
- Predict the effect of changing one or more of the components (e.g., battery, load, wires) in an electric circuit.
- Generalize the properties of materials that carry the flow of electricity using data by testing different materials.
- Investigate materials that prevent the flow of electricity.
- Make a working model of a complete circuit using a power source, switch, bell or light, and a conductor for a pathway.