Tag Archives: charge

Purpose
In this investigation, students will explore the nature of a force. Students will determine whether or not the force is distinct from other known forces.
Discussion
This is an introduction to electrostatic force. It shows students evidence of a force but demands they eliminate gravitational force and magnetic force before giving it a new name. Pith ball [...]

You might assume that most of your students are capable of lighting a light bulb given a battery, a bulb, and a single strand of wire. In actuality, when faced with this challenge, some students may succeed at the task immediately while others may never be able to make the bulb light without assistance.

The electrical force is so pervasive that it is difficult to name many aspects of the physical world not affected by it. At the most fundamental level, the attractive electrical force between electrons and protons holds atoms together. On a bit larger scale, electrical interactions between atoms are responsible for the formation of molecules. On a much grander scale, a rapid discharge of atmospheric electricity manifests itself as a flash of lightning. All these phenomena are governed by the same basic principles.