Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Electricity: Electric Field

Assumptions: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class, prior student study with both the Book and the start of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be conducted during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a significant portion of the available time.

Objectives

Duration: (5 - 7 minutes)

The objectives stage is crucial to guide both students and the teacher on what is expected to be achieved by the end of the lesson. By clearly establishing what students should be able to do, this section serves as a guide for the preparation and execution of practical activities. By detailing the objectives, the teacher can plan more effective teaching strategies and students can focus their prior study efforts on specific areas, ensuring better use of class time.

Main Objectives:

1. Empower students to relate the generated electric field with electric force, understanding how the presence of charges influences the field.

2. Enable students to calculate the electric field generated by point and distributed charges using the appropriate formula.

3. Develop skills to identify and determine the magnitude, direction, and sense of an electric field in different configurations.

Side Objectives:

1. Encourage discussion and critical questioning about the topic among students, promoting a deeper understanding of the concepts.
2. Foster collaboration and teamwork during practical activities to reinforce learning.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The introduction serves to engage students with the lesson's theme and to make a smooth transition from pre-study at home to practical application in class. The problem situations encourage students to think critically and apply the theoretical knowledge acquired, setting the stage for deeper exploration in class. The contextualization, in turn, shows the relevance of the electric field in the real world, sparking students' interest and demonstrating the applicability of the concepts to be studied.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine you are in a physics laboratory and there are two electrically charged spheres, one positively and the other negatively, suspended by very thin threads. If we bring a small positive charge close to these spheres, what do you think will happen to the spheres? And what if the charge were negative?

2. Consider a large electric field between the plates of a capacitor. If an electron were placed in the region of the field, what would be the direction and sense of the force that the field would exert on it?

Contextualization

The study of electric fields is not only theoretical but has significant practical applications. For example, in medicine, the electrocardiogram technique uses the electric field generated by the heart to diagnose heart problems. Additionally, understanding how charges behave in electric fields is essential for the development of technologies such as microcontrollers and electronic devices we use daily. Interesting facts such as Benjamin Franklin being one of the first to study electricity and develop concepts around electric charges and their interactions enhance the topic.

Development

Duration: (75 - 85 minutes)

The Development stage is designed to allow students to apply and deepen their theoretical knowledge of Electric Field acquired previously. Through practical, interactive activities, students can explore the behavior of charges in electric fields concretely, consolidating theoretical understanding with practice. This approach not only aids in knowledge retention but also develops investigative skills and critical thinking.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended to carry out only one of the suggested activities

Activity 1 - Mapping the Electric Field

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Visually understand the concept of electric field and how charges interact within it.

- Description: In this activity, students will simulate the creation of an electric field around different configurations of electric charges, using peppers to represent positive charges and garlic to represent negative charges. The goal is to visualize and measure the electric field generated by each charge configuration.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Each group will receive a set of peppers and garlic, a sheet of paper, and a small timer.

• Students should arrange the charges (peppers and garlic) on the sheet of paper to simulate different configurations (line, square, circle, etc.).

• Use a small stick with an electric charge (which can be made with a plastic straw and styrofoam balls) to test the electric field around the charges, observing the movement of the peppers and garlic.

• Analyze and record the results, measuring the distance that the peppers and garlic move away from their initial position when approached by the stick.

Activity 2 - Simulation of Forces in the Electric Field

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop calculation skills and understand the relationship between electric field and electric force.

- Description: Students will use an electric field simulator to explore how different charges and configurations affect the electric force in a field. The activity includes solving practical problems involving the calculation of electric force and field.

- Instructions:

• Access the electric field simulator on a computer or tablet.

• Conduct simulations with different charge configurations and distances to observe the behavior of the electric field.

• Solve proposed problems that involve calculating the electric field and force in specific situations.

• Discuss group observations and results, comparing them with the theoretical concepts studied.

Activity 3 - Building an Electroscope

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Understand the operating principle of an electroscope and how materials influence the behavior of charges in an electric field.

- Description: Students will construct a simple electroscope to demonstrate the presence of charges and understand how the electric field affects these charges. They will also explore different materials to understand how conductors and insulators influence the behavior of charges.

- Instructions:

• Assemble a simple electroscope using materials like a plastic bottle, a piece of aluminum foil, a conductive wire, and a glass or plastic rod.

• Charge the electroscope with a previously rubbed rod to observe the movement of aluminum foil leaves.

• Change the rod material to see if the type of charge influences the behavior of the electroscope.

• Investigate the effect of different materials (conductors and insulators) on charge behavior.

Feedback

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to consolidate practical and theoretical learning about the Electric Field, allowing students to reflect on their experiences and articulate what they learned. The group discussion helps identify comprehension gaps and clarify concepts, as well as promote collaborative learning. This moment also serves to assess students' understanding and reinforce the applicability of physics concepts in practical situations.

Group Discussion

At the end of the practical activities, gather all students in a circle for a group discussion. Start the discussion with a brief review of the concepts of Electric Field, asking how students applied these concepts in the practical activities. Encourage each group to share their discoveries and challenges faced during the tasks. Use these experiences to foster a broader conversation about the theory and practice of Electric Field.

Key Questions

1. What were the most surprising discoveries you made while exploring the electric field in the practical activities?

2. How does the notion of charge and electric field relate to real-world phenomena you know?

3. Was there any point during the activities where the theory studied before the class did not match what you observed in practice? How was that resolved?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The Conclusion stage is essential to ensure that students have consolidated the knowledge acquired during the lesson. In addition to reinforcing key concepts, this section allows students to see the applicability of what they have learned, encouraging a more integrated view and motivating them to continue exploring the topic. The Conclusion also serves to assess the overall understanding of the subject and clarify any remaining doubts.

Summary

In the conclusion, the teacher should summarize and recap the main concepts covered regarding the Electric Field, such as the relationship between electric field and electric force, the calculation of the electric field generated by different charge configurations, and the verification of the magnitude, direction, and sense of an electric field. This summary helps reinforce learning and fix concepts in students' memories.

Theory Connection

It is important to highlight how the lesson connected the theory studied at home with the practical activities conducted in class. Simulations, experiments, and discussions allowed students to directly apply the theoretical concepts, solidifying understanding and highlighting the importance of the electric field in everyday situations and technological applications.

Closing

Finally, the teacher should emphasize the relevance of the Electric Field in daily life, such as in medical applications, technology, and understanding natural phenomena. This focus helps students realize the importance of physics and motivates them to explore the field of electricity and its applications more deeply.