Cycle 1

In the previous cycle, students discovered that electricity and magnets can exert a force on objects they are not in contact with. These non-contact forces are possible due to electric and magnetic force fields that occur around objects.

In this cycle, students will discover the answer to the question, “How do charged objects behave during electrostatic interactions? ” To do this, students will first observe the effects of static electricity on charged objects. They will then use an electroscope to see how positive and negative charges cause objects to attract or repel. Students will obtain information about how the subatomic structures of atoms cause objects to be positively or negatively charged. At the end of this cycle, students will use the triboelectric series to choose materials that cause the biggest charge difference to design simple toys that move because of static electricity.

This cycle defines electrostatics and variables that affect the strength of the electrostatic force between two objects. This mirrors the conversation that will be had in Cycle 2 about the variables that affect electric current and Concept 3 about the variables that affect the strength of a magnet.