GARDENA HIGH SCHOOL
   SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

PHYSICS LESSONS
 

Designed by Chris Nsor
 


 
 

BASIC ELECTRICITY


     Introduction   Standards  Objectives Activitives   Assessment      Results   Resources
Introduction
Basic Electricity provides an easy to understand source of information on the fundamentals for high school students  taking courses in physical science. Upon completion of these lessons, students will have a thorough understanding of the basic concepts of electricity. The instructional materials are arranged to provide interaction and continuity in learning.
Subject: Physics
Topic:Basic Electricity
Grade Level:9 - 12
Standards Addressed
 California Physics Standards:
 5. Electricity and Magnetism
    As a basis for understanding this concept:
    a. Students know how  to predict the voltage or current in simple direct
        current (DC) electric circuits constructed from batteries, wires, resistors,
        and capacitors.
     b. Know how to solve problems involving Ohm's law.
     c.Students know any resistive elements in a DC circuit dissipates energy,
        which  heats the resistor. Students  can calculate the power (rate of 
        energy  dissipation) in any resistive circuit element by using the formula
         Power = IR (potential difference) x I  (current) =I2R                                   TOP
 
 
 
 

Instructional Objectives
After completing these lessons, students will:
-know what is an electric current and how it is 
 measured in amperes.
-know the relationship among electric current,
  voltage, and resistance.
-know how current can be controlled in a circuit
-know what is an electric circuit.
-know the standard symbols used in an electric
 circuit.
-Know how to draw schematic diagrams that 
  represent electric circuits.
-Know the difference between series and parallel 
 circuits.
-Know how to solve problems involving Ohm's law.
                                                                                                                                 TOP
Student Activities
The students will go through three interactive lessons on Basic Electricity.
Student Lessons

Introductory Activity
In groups of two, students will brainstorm on the sources of electrical energy, and search the web on information about alternative sources of electricity available  in their community.

Enabling Activity(ies)
Students will visit specified web sites, then write a paper on additional information found on web sites about electricity not mentioned in the lessons.
 

Culminating Activity
 Students will work in cooperative  groups of two.  Each group will be given four dry cells, switch, wires,ammeter, voltmeter, and two lamps to construct both  series and parallel circuits.  After construction, students will measure the current, voltage, and resistance in each circuit.  For challenging activity, students  may explore with different materials  to construct either a separate or combined  series and parallel circuit.  Each group will present its project to the class
                                                                                                                                 TOP 
 
 

Assessment
 Pre-Test is on the first page of student lessons, and it is given before the introductory activity.
Post-Test
Rubric

Results
Chart
Presentation

                                                                                                                                 TOP

Web Resources & Supplementary Materials

    Websites

 

 

Gardena High School
Gardena CA 
Chris Nsor 
asukokim@aol.com
Last Revised:11/19/2001                                                                                        TOP