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Created 8/25/19. Updates available online.

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Introduction to Electrostatics A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines.



Title Introduction to Electrostatics
Description I do this lesson on the first day of our electostatics unit. Learning Goals: i) Explain how what it means for something to be positively or negatively charged; ii) Explain what "net charge" means and how to find it; iii) Explain ways in which something can become charged; iv) Explain movement of objects based on your understanding of electrostatic force The thing I like the best about this lesson is that it provides a great opportunity for differentiation. Almost all students have had some electrostatics background, and therefore have something to add in the "know" column of their notes. However, even those that tell me that they already know everything about this unit quickly discover that they still have a lot to learn.
Subject Chemistry, Physics
Level High School, Middle School
Type Lab
Duration 60 minutes
Answers Included No
Language English
Keywords Circuits, Electricity
Simulation(s) Balloons and Static Electricity (HTML5), Balloons and Static Electricity

Author(s) Karen King
Contact Email kingkar@missouri.edu
School / Organization Denver School of Science and Technology
Date submitted 5/6/07
Date updated 5/27/15
English
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