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The documents and all material contained therein are © Dean Baird. All rights reserved. They may be used by teachers and students for classroom instruction. Beyond that, no part of these documents may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.
| GUIDES | |
| 1 | Current+Circuits Examples Definitions of quantities, explanations of equations, worked out example problems. |
| 2 |
Batteries and Current Gives a brief history and explanation of the battery and a definition of current. |
| 3 |
Circuit Basics Pretty standard discussion of what happens in a simple electric circuit. |
| 4 |
The Slider Circuit Describes an analogy between electric circuits and playground slides. |
| JOBS | |
| 1 |
Lemon Battery Lab
Springboard Students are given a lemon wedge and two galvanized nails. They must construct a 0.5V or better battery. |
| 2 |
Analog
Measurement Technique 2 - Answers - Presentation (QuickTime) Measurement involving a digit of estimation on the arcing scale of a voltmeter or ammeter. |
| 3 |
Current
and Voltage Springboard - Answers
- Presentation (QuickTime) Mechanical analogies for developing the meanings of current and voltage. |
| 4 |
Understanding the Slide Uses the analogy comparing simple circuits to playground slides to conceptually develop Ohm's Law. |
| 5 |
Bun-Burning Power - Answers Uses the analogy comparing simple circuits to playground slides to conceptually develop Joule's Law. |
| 6 |
Simple Circuit
Wrap-Up - Answers
- Presentation
(QuickTime) Review of the principles and ratios concerning the simple circuit. |
| LABS - The unlinked titles below are available in the Conceptual Physics lab manual from Pearson Education - Amazon link | |
| 1 |
Ohm,
Ohm on the Range Hands-on development of Ohm's Law. Introduces ammeters, voltmeters, and power supplies. |
| 2 | Batteries
and Bulbs Given a battery, bulb, and wire, construct a working circuit. And other conceptual adventures in simple circuitry. |
| Batteries and
Bulbs [PhET Lab] at TPT Given a simulated battery, bulb, and wire, construct a working circuit. And other conceptual adventures in simple circuitry. |
|
| 3 |
An
Open and Short Case Determine the difference between an open circuit and a short circuit. |
| 4 |
Be
the Battery! Using the Genecon to power a circuit, feel what it's like to power a short circuit, an open circuit, and a normal circuit. One of those will wear you down fast. |
| 5 |
Logic Gates
[PhET Lab] at TPT |
| 6 |
Switch Wars
[PhET Lab] at
TPT |
| DEMO | |
| Brainiacs: Electric Fence
[Virtual Demonstration] at TPT A nicely produced segment from the British series, Brainiac: Science Abuse. I chopped it up to allow for inquiry, debate, and discussion. Highly recommended! |
|
| OTHER | |
| 1 |
Mechanical
Universe (College) - Electric Battery at TPT |
| 2 |
Mechanical
Universe (College) - Electric Circuits at TPT |
| 3 |
Conceptual
Physics Alive! Electric Circuits at TPT |
| 4 |
Mechanical
Universe: High School Adaptation - Simple DC
Circuits at TPT This episode covers current electricity, Ohm's law, and even Kirchoff's laws. Alternate forms accommodate students seated side-by-side. |
| 5 |
PBS NOVA:
Search for the Super Battery at TPT |
| 6 |
Physics
for the 21st Century - Macroscopic Quantum Mechanics
at TPT High-temperature superconductors |
| 7 |
Current
Crossword Puzzle at TPT Not a typical academic subject matter crossword. This one adds general high school vocabulary words. Over 100 words and 150 crosses in total. |
| 8 |
Circuits
Crossword Puzzle at TPT Not a typical academic subject matter crossword. This one adds general high school vocabulary words. Over 100 words and 150 crosses in total. |
| 9 |
PracTest and Answers |
Click here for a legend and explanation of cryptic terms and abbreviations.
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