Part 1A:  Electric Current

Objectives
After participating in the program Electricity and Magnetism, Part 1A, students will be able to:

· assemble a simple circuit using insulated wires, battery, small light bulb, and   bulb holder

· explain that electrons traveling through a completed circuit constitute an   electric current

· recognize that electrons travel readily in some materials and do not travel in   others

· test materials and classify them as conductors or insulators

· list several uses for conducting and insulating materials

Relevant Vocabulary

*circuit	a complete path over which current may flow
*open circuit	an electrical circuit that is broken and thus carries no current
*closed circuit	an electrical circuit that is complete and can carry a current
*electron	an elementary particle found in all atoms (not in the nucleus) which carries a negative charge
*proton	an elementary particle found in the nucleus of all atoms which carries a positive charge equal to the negative charge of an electron
*neutron	an elementary particle found in the nucleus of all atoms which carries no electrical charge
*conductor	a material through which electricity can readily flow
*insulator	a material through which electricity cannot readily flow

Materials Needed
(For each group of students)
        · 3 sets of insulated wires (with alligator clips)
        · 6 V battery
        · light bulb and holder
        · bag of test materials
                - glass
                - magnet
                - washer
                - marble
                - Al foil
                - eraser
                - nail
                - rubber band
                - penny
                - screen
                - sponge
                - wood
                - plastic
                - pencil lead, etc.
        · bag of special materials
                - ITO coated glass
                - diode
                - LED
                - conductive polymer
 

Disclaimer: Some of the procedures for the activities contained in the lessons have been adapted from various resources listed throughout the module.

PDF Format	Word Format
Activity Lesson Plan Teacher's Notes Student Worksheet Worksheet Key	Activity Lesson Plan Teacher's Notes Student Worksheet Worksheet Key

This work was supported by the Center on Polymer Interfaces and Macromolecular Assemblies (CPIMA)
as part of the NSF Materials Science and Engineering Center program under Grant DMR 9808677

Copyright 1996 - 2003, Leland Stanford Junior University. All rights reserved.

 

Home

Contact Us

Top