Electrostatics and Basic Circuits
Big Ideas 1, 3, 5
Learning Objectives: 1.B.1.1, 1.B.1.2, 1.B.2.1, 1.B.3.1, 3.C.2.1, 3.C.2.2, 5.A.2.1
Upon completion of this unit, you should be able to:
Lab Activities
1. Electrostatics – Students will qualitatively investigate interaction between charged particles.
2. Electric Field Mapping – Students will find equipotential lines and map the electric fields for several different charge distributions.
Learning Objectives: 1.B.1.1, 1.B.1.2, 1.B.2.1, 1.B.3.1, 3.C.2.1, 3.C.2.2, 5.A.2.1
Upon completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- distinguish between the two types of electric charge, state the charge‐force law that operates between charged objects, and understand and use the law of charge conservation.
- distinguish between conductors and insulators, explain the operation of the electroscope, and distinguish among charging by friction, conduction, induction, and polarization.
- understand Coulomb's law and use it to calculate the electric force between charged particles.
- understand the definition of the electric field, plot electric field lines and calculate electric fields for simple charge distributions.
- describe the electric field near the surface and in the interior of a conductor, determine where the highest concentration of excess charge accumulates on a charged conductor, and sketch the electric field line pattern outside a charged conductor.
- state the physical basis of Gauss's law and use the law to make qualitative predictions.
- understand the concept of electric potential difference ('voltage') and its relationship to electric potential energy and calculate electric potential differences and electric potential energy.
- explain what is meant by an equipotential surface, sketch equipotential surfaces for simple charge configurations, and explain the relationship between equipotential surfaces and electric fields.
Lab Activities
1. Electrostatics – Students will qualitatively investigate interaction between charged particles.
2. Electric Field Mapping – Students will find equipotential lines and map the electric fields for several different charge distributions.
Basic Circuits
Big Ideas 1, 5
Learning Objectives: 1.B.1.1, 1.B.1.2, 1.E.2.1, 5.B.9.1, 5.B.9.2, 5.B.9.3, 5.C.3.1, 5.C.3.2, 5.C.3.3
Upon completion of this unit, you should be able to:
Lab Activities
1. Series Circuits – Students will explore Ohm’s law for a simple series circuit.
2. Parallel Circuits – Students will construct and analyze parallel circuits using Kirchhoff’s rules.
Learning Objectives: 1.B.1.1, 1.B.1.2, 1.E.2.1, 5.B.9.1, 5.B.9.2, 5.B.9.3, 5.C.3.1, 5.C.3.2, 5.C.3.3
Upon completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- introduce the properties of a battery, explain how a battery produces a direct current in a circuit, and learn various circuit symbols for sketching schematic circuit diagrams.
- define electric current, distinguish between electron flow and conventional current, and explain the concept of drift velocity and electric energy transmission.
- define electrical resistance and explain what is meant by an ohmic resistor, summarize the factors that determine resistance, and calculate the effect of these factors in simple situations.
- define electric power, calculate the power delivery of simple electric circuits, and explain joule heating and its significance.
- determine the equivalent resistance of resistors in series, parallel, and series‐parallel combinations, and use equivalent resistances to analyze simple circuits.
- understand the physical principles that underlie Kirchhoff's circuit rules and apply these rules in the analysis of actual circuits.
- understand how galvanometers are used as ammeters and voltmeters, how multirange versions of these devices are constructed, and how they are connected to measure current and voltage in real circuits.
- understand how household circuits are wired and the underlying principles that govern electric safety devices.
Lab Activities
1. Series Circuits – Students will explore Ohm’s law for a simple series circuit.
2. Parallel Circuits – Students will construct and analyze parallel circuits using Kirchhoff’s rules.