The Physics Classroom » Lesson Plans » Conceptual Physics » Static Electricity

Conceptual Physics Course Package

We are nearing completion of our Conceptual Physics Course Package. This downloadable package will include Think Sheets created specifically for a Conceptual Physics course. The Think Sheets will be available in Microsoft Word format, allowing teachers to easily make changes and customize the product. Answer sheets will be provided in both PDF and Microsoft Word format. Each unit contains a file titled ImageBanks which includes graphics used in the Think Sheets, allowing teachers the ability to modify them and re-purpose them for quizzes, tests, and other products. The downloadable package also included an entire lab program for our 12 units. This will include Student Activity Sheets and Teacher Guides in Microsoft Word format. The Teacher Guides include expected answers and to the Student Activity Sheets, time estimates, material lists, a description of alternative materials and methods, procedural details, and words of caution. Finally, each unit is equipped with a Bonus folder that has a generous collection of other goodies of interest to teachers of the course.

We are expecting the product to be complete and available for purchase in April or May of 2025. An update will be provided once the project is complete.

In creating our Lesson Plans and Learning Outcomes for this course we have referenced several of the items that we intend to place in the package. We have used red text wherever we have made such a reference. These items will only be available by purchase of the course package.
 

Static Electricity

The lesson plans below include links to the specific resources on our website.

Teacher Guides for labs can be found here.

NOTE: All CalcPad problem sets are customized problem sets created specifically for this course. The links direct users to the Guest version. Task Tracker users should use the link on the Task Tracker page to the trackable CalcPad version.  

Day 1 of Static Electricity

Lesson Plan
  1. Introduce Unit; discuss Charge
    The atom; proton, electron, and neutron (charge and location of each); p+s are tightly bound; e-s can be added and removed from an atom; balanced vs. unbalanced charge; result of adding or removing e-s
  2. Pair Practice: Charge Think Sheet
  3. Concept Builder: Charge and Charging

Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Static Electricity: Lesson 1, Parts a and b
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission SE1 on Charges and Atoms


 

Day 2 of Static Electricity

Lesson Plan
  1. Discuss charge interactions
    Opposites attract; likes repel; changed and neutral attract; demonstrations
  2. Pair Practice: Charge Interactions Think Sheet
  3. Lab 1 - The T-Tape and B-Tape
  4. If time allows, start Minds On Physics: Mission SE2

Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Static Electricity: Lesson 1, Part c
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission SE2 on Interactions Between Charged Objects


 

Day 3 of Static Electricity

Lesson Plan
  1. Concept Builder: Getting the Hang of Charge
  2. Discuss Triboelectric Charging
    Procedure; result; explanation in terms of e- movement; demonstrations
  3. Pair Practice: Triboelectric Charging Think Sheet

Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Static Electricity: Lesson 2, Part a
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission SE3 on Triboelectric Charging


 

Day 4 of Static Electricity

Lesson Plan
  1. Discuss Conductors vs. Insulators
  2. Lab 2 - The Triboelectric Series
    Do and process; complete the report

Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Static Electricity: Lesson 1, Part d
  2. Concept Builder: Triboelectric Charging


 

Day 5 of Static Electricity

Lesson Plan
  1. Review conductors and insulators; then Pair Practice: Conductors and Insulators Think Sheet
    Do and check answers; then ...
  2. Lab 3 - Conductors vs. Insulators
  3. Concept Builder: Conductors and Insulators

Homework/Announcements
  1. Review: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Static Electricity: Lesson 1, Part d
  2. If not done in class, complete Conductors and Insulators


 

Day 6 of Static Electricity

Lesson Plan
  1. Physics Interactives: Aluminum Can Polarization with Student Activity Sheet
    Do and process; discuss polarization
  2. Pair Practice: Polarization Think Sheet
  3. Concept Builder: Polarization

Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Static Electricity: Lesson 1, Part e
  2. Aluminum Can Polarization Concept Checker


 

Day 7 of Static Electricity

Lesson Plan
  1. Physics Interactive: Charging with Student Activity Sheet
    Do; process; then ... 
  2. Start Charging Concept Checker
  3. Short Quiz: Learning Outcomes #1 - #4

Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Static Electricity: Lesson 2, Part b
  2. If not done in class, complete Charging Concept Checker


 

Day 8 of Static Electricity

Lesson Plan
  1. Discuss Charging by Induction
    Procedure; results; explain in terms of e- movement (polarization step and charging step); demonstrations
  2. Pair Practice: Charging by Induction Think Sheet
  3. Minds On Physics: Mission SE5 on Charging by Induction - Pop Can Induction
  4. Minds On Physics: Mission SE6 on Charging by Induction - a Single Sphere

Homework/Announcements
  1. Review as needed: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Static Electricity: Lesson 2, Part b
  2. Complete MOP Missions: Mission SE5 || Mission SE6


 

Day 9 of Static Electricity

Lesson Plan
  1. Lab 4 - Charging by Induction
    Do and process; then ... 
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission SE7 on Charging by Induction - Electrophorus Plate

Homework/Announcements
  1. Review as needed: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Static Electricity: Lesson 2, Part b
  2. Complete Minds On Physics: Mission SE7 on Charging by Induction - Electrophorus Plate


 

Day 10 of Static Electricity

Lesson Plan
  1. Discuss Charging by Contact (Conduction)
    Procedure; result; explanation in terms of e- movement; demonstrations
  2. Pair Practice: Charging by Conduction Think Sheet
    Do and process
  3. Discuss Grounding
    Procedure; result; explanation in terms of e- movement; demonstrations
  4. Pair Practice: Grounding Think Sheet
    Do and process

Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Static Electricity: Lesson 2, Parts c and d
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission SE4 on Charging by Contact and the Grounding Process


 

Day 11 of Static Electricity

Lesson Plan
  1. Physics Interactives: Name That Charge
  2. Concept Builder: Charging by Induction (Apprentice Level only)
  3. Short Quiz: Learning Outcomes #4 - #6

Homework/Announcements
  1. Review as needed: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Static Electricity: Lesson 2
  2. If not done in class, then complete: Name That Charge || Charging by Induction


 

Day 12 of Static Electricity

Lesson Plan
  1. Physics Interactive: Coulomb's Law with Student Activity Sheet
    Do; process; give attention to the inverse square law
  2. Discuss Coulomb's Law
    Electric force; action at a distance; variables affecting F; proportionality statements; examples of how doubling/tripling/halving Q or d affects F (no substitution problems)
  3. Start Coulomb's Law Concept Checker

Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Static Electricity: Lesson 3, Parts a, b, and c
  2. If not done, complete Coulomb's Law Concept Checker


 

Day 13 of Static Electricity

Lesson Plan
  1. Review Coulomb's Law and the inverse square relationship
  2. Pair Practice: Coulomb's Law and Proportional Reasoning Think Sheet
    Do; check answers; then ...
  3. Concept Builder: Coulomb's Law
  4. Minds On Physics: Mission SE8 on Coulomb's Law Equation as a Guide to Thinking

Homework/Announcements
  1. Review as needed: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Static Electricity: Lesson 3, Part c
  2. CalcPad: Static Electricity 1 on Coulomb's Law


 

Day 14 of Static Electricity

Lesson Plan
  1. Discuss Electric Field
    Action-at-a-distance; Source Charge vs. Test Charge; E = F/q; E = kQsource/d2; direction of E vector; proportional reasoning examples (no substitution problems)
  2. Pair Practice: Electric Field Think Sheet
    Do and check answers; then ...
  3. Start Concept Builder: Electric Field

Homework/Announcements
  1. Reading: Physics Classroom Tutorial, Static Electricity: Lesson 4, Parts a and b
  2. Minds On Physics: Mission SE10 on Electric Field (includes 1 relatively easy substitution problem)



 

Day 15 of Static Electricity

Lesson Plan
  1. Discuss Test/Review Unit
  2. Finish Concept Builder: Electric Field
  3. Bonus Points - Physics Interactives: Electric Field Hockey (with built-in Task Tracking)

Homework/Announcements
  1. Prepare for Tomorrow's Test
  2. Complete all unfinished work