Weeks 10-12 Electricity part 1

This is the first part of a 5 week unit on the basics of electricity, circuits and power generation.  Students will make and simulate simple circuits, practice the relationship between current voltage and power, develop an understanding of how electricity is generated and the similarities between generators and motors and they will make simple speakers.  In the second part of the unit they will conduct an extended experiment trying to optimize the output of an electricity generating windmill.

Weekly Goals

1. Give working definitions for current voltage and power.
2. Describe what happens in a simple electric circuit.
3. Describe the basic physics of electrical power generation. 
4. Describe similarities and differences between electric generators and motors.

Binder Table of Contents

1.  Class notes  Day 1: Video and Exploration

2.  The basic physics of Electric Power

3.  How Electric Motors Work

more to come

The short quiz will be on April 18 or 19, and I will collect binders that day.

The unit test will be on May 2 or 3.

The retake of the Waves unit test needs to be completed by April 12.

The next unit will be the final unit.  It will be on balancing our power generating needs with the challenges of climate change.