"Static" Electricity
This topic is broken into units to help in formulating cohesive, effective lessons. Clicking on each unit title below will display appropriate activities, lesson plans, or labs.
Unit materials are a subset of all possible materials available for this topic, selected especially with the new physics teacher in mind. You may instead browse all materials for this topic here .
Physical Sciences K-8 "Static" Electricity Units
Characteristics of "static" electricity include: 1)The number of of positive and negative electric charges within a material may not be equal, 2)voltage is high and current is low, 3) electrical forces (attraction and repulsion) can reach across great distances, and 4) electric fields (as opposed to magnetic fields) become very important. (Electric fields are also called "electrostatic fields" or "e-fields." Units are not listed in a prescribed order.
Lesson Plans:
This page links to five lesson plans in static electricity for beginning learners. Designed for easy set-up, the lessons are intended to help beginners understand charge, electrostatic induction, and how transfer of electrons occurs.
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This lesson plan for beginners includes a creative update of the "Kissing Balloon", plus three activities designed to enhance student understanding of electric charge, electron transfer, and polarization. Try teaming it with Chasing Cheerios below.
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A Cheerio is suspended from a string and brought in contact with a charged plastic ruler, then neutralized by touching it. This lesson illustrates both induction and conduction. A second activity is included, with a printable student data sheet and reference materials.
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Using neon bulbs as a "test charge" for a current or for an electric field. this is a description for a lesson plan or activity.
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Activities:
The "snacks" are scaled-down versions of exhibits relating to electricity at the Exploratorium museum. Find activities related to electrostatics, charge, force and field potential, and circuits.
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References and Collections:
This is a wonderful collection of materials on the scientific works of Benjamin Franklin, integrating historical background with descriptions of the actual lab experiments. The lab guide explains how to set up identical (or very similar) experiments in the classroom and provides video how-to's for several lessons.
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Content Support For Teachers:
Common misconceptions about the topic of electrostatics are fully explored in this resource for both teachers and learners. The author debunks more than a dozen myths as he offers comprehensive explanations of related phenomena.
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This NASA resource is a complete "primer" on the subject of lightning. It includes an easily understood description of the lightning discharge process, modern data collection,and a brief history of the scientific study of lightning.
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Activities:
The Exploratorium "snacks" are miniature versions of popular exhibits at the museum, all do-able with inexpensive materials. For electrostatics, click on "Charge and Carry", "Electroscope", and "Holding Charge".
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Content Support For Teachers:
This site is a great content source for teachers that explains electric fields and even gives an assessment at the end.
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Activities:
Definitions, explanations and applications of the inverse square law to electrostatics forces
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In this Java simulation, your students play with a replication of Coulomb's historic torsion balance -- a device used to measure electric force between charges. Coulomb's methodical measuring laid the foundation for Coulomb's Law, a fundamental principle of electricity and magnetism.
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References and Collections:
This is a wonderful collection of materials on the scientific works of Benjamin Franklin, integrating historical background with descriptions of the actual lab experiments. The lab guide explains how to set up identical (or very similar) experiments in the classroom and provides video how-to's for several lessons.
(Open Website )
Student Tutorials:
This short biography on Charles-Augustin de Coulomb (1736-1806) gives background on the pioneer's work, which resulted in the fundamental physics law named after him. Coulomb's Law states: the electric force between charged objects inversely depends upon the distance between the objects. This tutorial helps students understand this relationship.
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Lesson Plans:
This lesson plan for the teacher of beginning high school physics and/or physical science provides directions for making a simple electroscope and updates the classic "kissing balloon" activity with creative additions. Included are printable student data sheets.
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Lesson Plans:
The Exploratorium "snacks" are miniature versions of popular exhibits at the museum, all do-able with inexpensive materials. For electrostatics, click on "Charge and Carry", "Electroscope", and "Holding Charge".
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A neon bulb is an object that can be lighted either by electric current or by static electricity. This creative lesson, which requires no math, helps students form an understanding of electron transfer. Included is a printable student data sheet.
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Activities:
This site has all the information needed to understand the operation and maintenance of Van de Graaff generators. The author includes helpful hints for classroom demonstrations.
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Content Support For Teachers:
This NASA resource is a complete "primer" on the subject of lightning. It includes an easily understood description of the lightning discharge process, modern data collection,and a brief history of the scientific study of lightning.
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Activities:
Franklin's second letter about transfer of electrical fluid in Leyden jars is accompanied by descriptions for setting up the experiments in a classroom.
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This item highlights Benjamin Franklin's historic first letter about points and Leyden jar experiments, describing how to set up the labs in the classroom.
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This item integrates a third historic Franklin letter with directions on how to construct a flat-plate capacitor and an electrostatic motor.
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Franklin's theory of atmospheric electrification is highlighted, with diagrams and annotations to enhance student understanding.
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This resource takes learners on a journey through history with primary source historical documents (written by Franklin) about his lightning rod experiments. It includes a translation of a 1752 experiment conducted in France. It is intended for integration with the item directly above.
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This web page integrates historic text and drawings with annotations and ideas for applying Franklin's theory of electrostatic induction in labs designed for the modern high school science classroom. It includes a 1750 letter by Franklin describing an accident resulting in his own near-electrocution.
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References and Collections:
This web site contains materials regarding the scientific work of Benjamin Franklin, and lab exercises related to experiments he performed. Writings and historical observations are integrated with lab descriptions to give students a better insight into his work.
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Content Support For Teachers:
A history and explanation of electrostatics charge and force
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Lesson Plans:
Exploring static electricity using simple household items.
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Activities:
Using balloons to explore static electricity for the early grades.
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References and Collections:
A history of how static electricity has been explored.
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Assessment:
