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.
Learning Outcomes for Static Electricity
Lesson Plans || Learning Outcomes and Activities || Teacher Notes || Labs
The list below displays sample learning objectives for the unit on Static Electricity. The various activities from the Lesson Plans have been organized by objective. This format of organizing The Physics Classroom's activities may be more useful to some teachers than the Lesson Plan format. It is worth noting that the activities identified below only include those activities included on the Lesson Plans and in the Pre-Built Task Tracker courses. Additional activities are referenced on the Teacher Notes page.
1. Charged vs. Uncharged Objects
Use an understanding of the structure of an atom to describe the distinction between neutral, positively-, and negatively-charged objects; in terms of subatomic particles, explain how a neutral object can become charged and how a charged object can become neutral.
Reading:
Video:
Think Sheets:
Charge
Concept Builders:
Minds On Physics:
2. Charge Interactions
Identify all the interactions between the two types of charged objects and neutral objects; use such an understanding to make a claim regarding the type of charge on an object if given observations of how it interacts with objects of known charge.
Reading:
Video:
Labs:
Lab 1: The T-Tape and B-Tape
Think Sheets:
Charge Interactions
Concept Builders:
Minds On Physics:
3. Polarization
Describe what charge polarization is and explain how it can occur in both conductors and insulators; diagram and discuss the orientation of charges within a polarized object.
Reading:
Video:
Labs:
Lab 3 - Conductors vs. Insulators
Think Sheets:
Conductors and Insulators
Polarization
Physics Interactives with Concept Checkers:
Concept Builders:
4. Triboelectric Charging (a.k.a., "Charging by Friction")
Describe a procedure and the result of triboelectric charging; use an understanding of electron affinity and electron movement to explain how the charging method works.
Reading:
Video:
Labs:
Lab 2 - The Triboelectric Series
Think Sheets:
Triboelectric Charging
Physics Interactives with Concept Checkers:
Concept Builders:
Minds On Physics:
5. Charging by Conduction and Grounding
Describe a procedure and the result of charging by conduction; explain (with words and diagrams) how it occurs in terms of electron movement; do the same for grounding.
Reading:
Video:
Think Sheets:
Charging by Conduction
Grounding
Physics Interactives with Concept Checkers:
Minds On Physics:
Mission SE4 on Charging by Contact and the Grounding Process
6. Charging by Induction
Describe a procedure and the result of charging by induction; explain (with words and diagrams) how it occurs in terms of electron movement.
Reading:
Video:
Labs:
Lab 4 - Charging by Induction
Think Sheets:
Charging by Induction
Physics Interactives with Concept Checkers:
Minds On Physics:
Mission SE5 on Charging by Induction - Pop Can Induction
Mission SE6 on Charging by Induction - a Single Sphere
Mission SE7 on Charging by Induction - Electrophorus Plate
7. Coulomb's Law
Use the relationship between the electric force, the distance between the charged objects, and the quantity of charge on the objects; predict the effect of changes in Q and d on the force.
Reading:
Video:
Think Sheets:
Coulomb's Law and Proportional Reasoning
Physics Interactives with Concept Checkers:
Minds On Physics:
Mission SE8 on Coulomb's Law Equation as a Guide to Thinking
CalcPad Problem Sets:
8. Electric Field
Explain what an electric field is; describe how the strength of an electric field can be determined using a test charge; describe the effect (or non-effect) of changes in source charge, test charge, and separation distance upon the strength of the electric field.
Reading:
Video:
Think Sheets:
Electric Field
Physics Interactives with Concept Checkers:
Concept Builders:
Minds On Physics:
Also Available ...
Physics teachers may find the following
for-sale tools to be useful supplements to our Lesson Plan and Pacing Guide section:
- Task Tracker Subscription (annual purchase)
A subscription allows teachers to set up classes, add students, customize online assignments, view student progress/scores, and export student scores. Task Tracker accounts allow your students to begin assignments in class or at school and to finish them at home. View our Seat and Cost Calculator for pricing details.
- The Solutions Guide
We publish a free curriculum with >200 ready-to-use Think Sheets for developing physics concepts. The Solutions Guide is a download containing the source documents, PDFs of source documents, and answers/solutions in MS Word and PDF format. An expanded license agreement is included with the purchase. (Cost: $25 download)
- Teacher Presentation Pack
This is a large collection of downloadable content packed with nearly 190 Microsoft PowerPoint slide decks, the corresponding Lesson Notes (as PDF and fully-modifiable MS Word format), about 170 animations (in .gif, .png, and .mp4 file formats), a countless number of ready-to-use images (including the original source documents that would allow for easy modification of those images), and a license that allows teachers to modify and use all the content with their classes on password-protected sites (such as course management systems). (Cost: $40 download)
- Question Bank
We distribute a Question Bank that includes more than 9300 questions neatly organized according to topic. The Question Bank is the perfect tool for busy teachers or new teachers. Even if you don't use the website with your classes, the Question Bank will assist you in quickly putting together quizzes, tests and other documents with high-quality questions that target student's conceptions of physics principles. And if you do use The Physics Classroom website, the Question Bank is the perfect complement to the materials found at the website. (Cost: $25 download)