Engage your aspiring physicists in a series of lab activities directied at demonstrating the behavior of electric force. In completing these exercises, learners will explore Coulomb's and Gauss's Laws. Well-written directions to four...

Groups work together to design a lighthouse, from designing and drawing the wiring diagram, to creating prototypes of the switch and circuit, to envisioning and building a scale model along with a blueprint. By including different...

Students investigate the properties of capacitors and discover that capacitors block DC and filter AC. They discover the function of capacitors. Students differentiate between AC and DC power. They explore the role of resistors.

Students experiment with a Leyden Jar, a device that stores electrical charges. A large voltage can be built up in this jar by adding more and more charge. The modern name for this device is a capacitor.

Students explore the different types of lifters through a series of activities. In this physics instructional activity, students explain the mechanics involved in the lifter designs. They compare aluminum versus zinc lifters.

Students use the CBL and voltage probe to observe electricity. In this algebra activity, students use the TI calculator with the CBL to explore Ohm's Law. They discuss exponential equations and how it relates to Ohm's Law.

Learners collect and analyze voltage data. Then, they investigate exponential functions using the TI and a Voltage Probe and graph their data and analyze it using a table.

If your future physicists know how to construct simple circuits, include resistors, and use a multi-meter to measure voltage, then you might employ this instructional activity on Ohm's law. Each lab group investigates the...

Students investigate the properites of a semiconductor device known as a diode. They recognize a diode as a one way conducting device. They describe alternating current and the use of a diode to convert it to direct current. Students...

Young scholars study the concept of electricity, what an electric current is and its relationship between voltage and resistance.In this electrical activity students solve problems using Ohm's law, and research alternative sources of...

Students compare a stepper motor from a traditional motor. In this physics lesson, students summarize how it works. They build their own stepper motor and explore its uses.

Students explore tesla coil through various experiments. In this physics lesson plan, students build their own tesla coils based on a given procedure. They discuss its real world applications.

Students explore static electricity using the Van de Graaff generator. In this physics instructional activity, students construct their own Van de Graaff using simple materials. They explain how charges accumulate on this device.

Middle schoolers identify the internal and external components of computers, robots and fan. In this physics activity, students draw a circuit diagram of their electronic components. They create a battery tester in the lab.