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Electricity

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Previous knowledge

• Atomic structure OC 39

• Static electricity OP 48

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Teaching and learning issues

Misconceptions are plentiful– partial understanding

– simple ideas: • wrong track• right lines

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Starting point

• Where students are now

• Probes

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Wrong track Right lines• no gaps in a

complete circuit• energy comes from a

battery• electricity flows• charged particles

travel• add a battery for a

brighter bulb• extra battery gives

more energy• battery runs out of

energy

• battery stores electricity

• electricity from both ends of the battery

• electricity is used up• battery runs out of

charged particles

• battery runs out of electric current

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Pupils need to

Understand and be able to measure– current – potential difference (Voltage) – resistance

Establish the relationship between them

(OP50)

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Pupils need toBe able to picture what is going on

– as charged particles gain energy from the battery and move in the circuit

– as energy is converted in those parts of the circuit with resistance.

– as energy is transferred to and from charged particles as they move in the circuit

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Starter activitiesClass practical activity

– capture interest– review the idea of a complete circuit– encourage pupils to talk and think

about simple electric circuits– engage pupils designing and making

circuits

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Next activity-the Big Circuit

•Having had a chance to think through their ideas pupils are shown a circuit. The Big Circuit

•The size of the circuit highlights the need for some transport mechanism to transfer energy from the battery to the bulb

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Next activity -Supermarket vans analogy

• Provides a way of helping pupils to develop an understanding of abstract concepts such as energy, charged particles and current, by relating them directly to familiar everyday objects (such as supermarket delivery vans)

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The empty vans go back to the bakery to

get more bread

Each van takes the bread to the supermarket

Empty vans collect bread at the bakery

The vans deliver the bread to the supermarket

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Next activity – Rope Analogy

• Provides a way of helping pupils to develop an understanding of abstract concepts (charged particles, current, resistance) by relating them directly to the movement of a rope round a loop.

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Energy is transferred

There is a continuous and steady flow of charges in all parts of the complete circuit

Chemical energy converted to electrical energy in battery