Lesson Plan | Technical Methodology | Electricity: Electric Charge

Objectives

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to establish a solid foundation of fundamental concepts about electric charge, essential for understanding electrical phenomena and their practical applications. The development of these practical skills is crucial to prepare students for real challenges in the job market, where electricity plays a vital role in various industries and technologies.

Main Objectives

1. Understand the concept of electric charge.

2. Comprehend that electric charge can be both negative and positive, but the negative charge is the one that moves in conductors.

3. Calculate the charge of a body based on the electric charge of an electron.

Side Objectives

1. Report practical applications of electric charge in electronic devices.
2. Debate the importance of electricity in the job market.

Introduction

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to establish a solid foundation of fundamental concepts about electric charge, essential for understanding electrical phenomena and their practical applications. The development of these practical skills is crucial to prepare students for real challenges in the job market, where electricity plays a vital role in various industries and technologies.

Contextualization

Electricity is a fundamental part of modern life. From lighting our homes to powering our electronic devices, electric charge plays a crucial role. Understanding what electric charge is and how it behaves is essential to grasp many of the phenomena we observe daily and to work in many technological and industrial areas.

Curiosities and Market Connection

 Curiosity: Did you know that the electric charge responsible for the functioning of our electronic devices is measured in coulombs, and that the charge of a single electron is approximately -1.6 x 10^-19 coulombs? This means that approximately 6.25 x 10^18 electrons are needed to make up 1 coulomb of charge.  Market Connection: In the job market, professionals who understand electricity are essential in sectors such as electrical engineering, telecommunications, industrial automation, and even in the maintenance of medical equipment. For example, electrical engineers design circuits for electronic devices and power distribution systems, while electronics technicians perform maintenance and repair of complex electronic equipment.

Initial Activity

 Initial Activity: Show a short video (2-3 minutes) demonstrating a simple experiment of electrification by friction, such as rubbing a balloon on a piece of wool and observing how it attracts small pieces of paper. Then, pose the following provocative question: 'Why does the balloon attract the pieces of paper after being rubbed?'. Encourage students to share their hypotheses and briefly discuss the answers.

Development

Duration: 50 - 60 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to consolidate the theoretical knowledge acquired about electric charge through practical and reflective activities. By building a simple electroscope and solving applied problems, students develop practical skills and a deeper understanding of the concepts, preparing them to face real challenges in the job market.

Covered Topics

1. Definition of electric charge
2. Properties of electric charge
3. Types of electric charges (positive and negative)
4. Transfer of electric charge
5. Calculation of the charge of a body based on the electron's charge

Reflections on the Theme

Guide students to reflect on the importance of understanding electric charge in the context of practical problems and the job market. Highlight how this knowledge is applied in various industries and how it is essential for the development of technologies that use electricity. Encourage them to think about how a better understanding of electric charge can contribute to technological innovations and solutions to everyday problems.

Mini Challenge

Building a Simple Electroscope

In this practical activity, students will build a simple electroscope using common materials. The goal is to demonstrate the transfer of electric charge and observe the effects of electrification.

Instructions

1. Divide students into groups of 4-5 people.
2. Provide the following materials for each group: a glass jar with a lid, a piece of aluminum foil, a copper rod (or other conductive metal), a piece of thin copper wire, adhesive tape and scissors.
3. Instructions for building the electroscope:
4. Drill a hole in the lid of the glass jar to pass the copper rod through.
5. Cut two thin strips of aluminum foil and fold them in half.
6. Attach the aluminum foil strips to the bottom end of the copper rod so that they hang down and are free to move.
7. Insert the copper rod through the lid of the jar, with the aluminum foil strips inside the jar.
8. Close the jar with the lid.
9. Rub a plastic object (like a ruler) on a piece of wool to electrically charge it.
10. Bring the charged object near the upper end of the copper rod and observe the behavior of the aluminum foil strips.
11. Ask students to take notes on the behavior of the aluminum foil strips and discuss among themselves why these changes occur.
12. After the activity, lead a group discussion on the principles of electrification by induction and the transfer of electric charge observed in the experiment.

Objective: Demonstrate the transfer of electric charge and observe the effects of electrification, providing a practical understanding of the theoretical concepts discussed.

Duration: 30 - 35 minutes

Evaluation Exercises

1. Calculate the amount of electric charge in a body that has 3 x 10^19 electrons.
2. Explain why the negative charge is the one that moves during electrification.
3. Describe a practical example, besides the electroscope, where the transfer of electric charge can be observed.
4. Discuss the importance of electric charge in electronic devices and give examples of how this knowledge is applied in electrical engineering.

Conclusion

Duration: 15 - 20 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to consolidate learning, allowing students to reflect on the theoretical and practical concepts addressed in the lesson. The discussion and recap of the main points help to reinforce the content, while the connection to the job market and practical applications reinforces the relevance of the topic for students' professional and everyday lives.

Discussion

Facilitate a discussion among students about the importance of electric charge, reflecting on how theoretical concepts were applied in practice during the construction of the electroscope. Question how the understanding of electric charge can be applied in real situations and in the job market, encouraging students to share their perspectives and insights. Remind them of the challenges and exercises carried out, highlighting the solutions found and the difficulties faced.

Summary

Recap the main content presented in the class: the definition of electric charge, the properties of charges, the transfer of electric charge, and the calculation of charge in a body based on the charge of an electron. Emphasize that the negative charge is the one that moves from one body to another, as demonstrated in the practical experiments.

Closing

Explain how the class connected theory and practice by allowing students to build an electroscope and observe the effects of electrification. Emphasize the importance of understanding electric charge both for daily life and for various professions and industries. Conclude by highlighting how the knowledge gained can be applied to solve practical problems and contribute to technological innovations.